May 2009

The Odd Gallery is celebrating its first anniversary!

The gallery is pleased to invite you to a vernissage exceptional

GEORGE AND MONA: PAINTINGS BY IKE MORGAN

Curated by Phillip March Jones

Friday, June 5, 2009 from 18h to 21h.

The Odd Gallery is pleased to present George and Mona : Paintings by Ike Morgan. Curated: Phillip March Jones.

Let's talk about George. United States, everyone has a portrait of him in his pocket. Then it Mona. In France, its image appears on every object imaginable champagne bottles, key chains, mouse pads, mattresses ...

George Washington and Mona Lisa (La Gioconda) became de facto ambassadors of their country, exported in all types of formats, colors and shapes. They leave their countries 'native' to move freely around the world. Their portraits even landed in the psychiatric hospital in Austin, Texas, and that's where Ike Morgan has discovered.

Ike Morgan tends to paint things that are random. His works are created from images he has on hand, unearthed in books, magazines, newspapers, everything is good for him. That said, when one is confined in a psychiatric hospital in Texas, the choice of material is necessarily limited. But there is always a dollar bill lying around, and miraculously, Mona Lisa is never far away.

Morgan's works are painted with rage, but also very carefully. He chose a subject and painted again and again until it sees fit to appear. And then it continues again and again. After all, once reached the pinnacle, s why stop? The production of these feverish portraits mimics equally feverish marketing products bear the image of his subjects.

Ike Morgan has also completed a year of innovation. By drawing the same images of a relentless manner - stopping only to eat, drink or sleep, he is forced to use a wide range of materials and techniques: different colors, different line thicknesses, multiple poses and rear -planes. The result is unique and astonishing.

Mona Lisa and George Washington's two favorite subjects of Morgan, and they have become iconic in its own work. The paintings selected for this exhibition are particularly relevant examples of his inimitable work. They emphasize the repetitive process and traces the changing nature of the figures over several years.

Ike Morgan was born in Rockdale, Texas in 1958. In the late seventies, he was diagnosed schizophrenic and was hospitalized Austin State Hospital (Psychiatric Hospital) from 1977 to 2000. Morgan spent the last twenty years working without interruption, using a variety of media and materials (inks, oils, acrylics, paper, cardboard, ... canvas) to create the striking tables and sharp Find out in this exhibition.