AM recently swung through the Merry Karnowsky Gallery to take in “Gameland,” the debut Los Angeles solo show from Chilean artist Victor Castillo. Castillo was in town from Barcelona (where he now lives) for the opening, and he filled all the rooms of Karnowsky’s beautiful space, really showcasing the various characters all have come to love in his work.
Children are often the main characters cast in his work, and they are often portrayed in scenes that don’t offer much hope, where weapons replace toys and innocence is all but lost. Many often question the use of his signature hot dog noses and how the eyes always seem hollowed out. To the artist, the noses represent human desire/arrogance and the notion of cannibalism (thus the overtly phallic noses). The sunken hollow eye sockets represent how many are blind and almost unconsciousness to the insanity and dehumanization that surrounds us in our everyday lives. There’s many hidden metaphors in his work and just a vast richness to his story telling and the statements he makes via his art.
There’s so much more to his work that we will leave you to discover for yourselves. If you are not able to make it out to the show before it come down on August 8th, please check out many of the works in the show after the jump.
He created a beautiful mural (see above) that greets patrons as they enter the gallery to view his show. Check out the rest of his works in the gallery below.
Merry Karnowsky Gallery
170 South La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles / 323.933.4408
“Gameland†featuring new works from Victor Castillo
(On view through August 8th)
Photos courtesy of Andrew Hosner.
Discuss this show here.
Discuss Victor Castillo here.
