Peter Saul
Two decades ago, Erik Parker studied under Peter Saul at the University of Austin. At NANZUKA in Tokyo this month, the two offer a vibrant and arresting duo show. Running through July 6, this program marks the first showing of Saul’s work in the country. (Parker was the featured cover artist of Hi-Fructose Vol. 49. Saul was last featured on HiFructose.com here.)
This issue’s features include: the poetic figurative paintings of Lukifer Aurelius, the glitchy narrative mayhem of Ori Toor, The bold graphic paintings of Hilda Palafox, the ornate sculptures of Beth Katleman, the outrageous paintings of cover feature Erik Parker, the intricate drawings of Ben Tolman, art history and the reluctant realism of F. Scott Hess, and the new sculptures and paintings by Amy Sol, as well as a special report on the hand painted (and uber violent) movie posters of Ghana. Plus: a Special 16-page insert section dedicated to previewing the Hi-Fructose Presents: the Art of the Mushroom show and more. Subscribe or order a copy today. See more previews after the jump.
Pop, outsider art, comic books, graffiti art, and other influences are blended in the striking paintings of Erik Parker. Mary Boone Gallery currently has a new show from the artist, titled “New Mood.” The artist is able to offer a mix of formats and approaches in this collection, from his widely known canvas works to his multi-layered “pyramids” and “plank paintings.” Parker was last mentioned on HiFructose.com here.
New York based artist Erik Parker is well known for his brightly colored, intensely layered paintings that employ an “organized chaos”. His style is a culmination of many styles, somewhere between the grotesque portraits of Francis Bacon and the imaginative arrangements of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, from graffiti to psychedelic album covers and cartoons. Parker once said that his aim is to “test how far he can go in the 21st century in taking the figure to the extremes of alteration,” and whether it be a figure or our television set, his extreme palette makes them look completely alien.