Walk down the streets of Los Angeles and chances are, you’ll find a Kenny Scharf artwork floating about — whether on a massive wall or a car passing by. Scarf paints on anything and everything that comes his way. An artist who left his sunny California home in his formative years to pursue his craft in New York City. There he would assimilate into the club scene and work alongside legends, such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquait.
Creating at the same compulsive speed over the last 40 years, Scarf presents a new exhibition, entitled “Earth” at Shanghai’s Almine Rech gallery. Blending his love for cartoons with the Pop Art movement he was cultivated under, Scarf’s characters reflect the noise of everyday life. His paintings, installations and sculptures all carry a dynamism — similar to frame animations, such as The Jetsons and The Flinstones that he was fond of during his youth.
“Earth” marks the artist’s first solo exhibition in mainland China, and Scarf has incorporated Chinese characters subtly in the background of several paintings to reflect this. Amongst the discernible words lie “plastic,” “petroleum,” and “carbon dioxide emissions.” These messages add a perilous backdrop to the playful, yet sinister look that each of Scarf’s characters emits as they gaze out to the viewer. The exhibition is currently on view until October 9 at Almine Rech in Shanghai.
Elsewhere, Hauser & Wirth brought an eclectic range of work to Art Basel 2021.
Almine Rech
27 Huqiu Road, 2nd Floor,
200002 Shanghai, China
