For their second collaborative project, the exhibition “De Anima” opening at Seattle’s Roq La Rue on May 1, Jean Labourdette (aka Turf One) and Martin Wittfooth present a new body of work focused on humans’ relationship with the natural world in the context of globalization. Though the two artists’ light, dreamy paintings of animals hint at a spiritual view of the nature, the show’s message is ultimately grounded in the unfortunate reality of the planet’s current state.
Humans want to have their cake and eat it, too, Labourdette and Wittfooth seem to say in their show statement: While we want to preserve the natural world, our thirst for new products and technologies inevitably is contributing to its pollution and the destruction of animal habitats. Wittfooth’s oil paintings reverently focus on large mammals, as if in admiration of their power, while Labourdette presents a less traditional series of work, from paintings on found wood to satirical, disconcerting sculptures. Take a look at our sneak peek of the show below.
Roq La Rue owner and curator Kirsten Anderson with paintings from the show (full disclosure: Kirsten Anderson is also editor-at-large at Hi-Fructose.)
Martin Wittfooth:
Painting by Martin Wittfooth (center) flanked by paintings by Jean Labourdette.
Jean Labourdette:
