Last Thursday, Joshua Liner Gallery held an opening reception for the New York showspace’s solo exhibition with Parra. The world recognized artist and designer presented a new series of twelve works on canvas, ink drawings, and sculpture, collectively titled No Work Today.
The new body of work the Dutch artist prepared for this showing is a continuation of his minimalist, simplified visual vocabulary, which is almost entering abstraction. By reducing the form and shape of his character to a bare minimum, the new pieces still carry his signature curvaceous line work and bold color palette, while playing with perspective, duplication and composition. Using the limited tones of red and blue, Parra achieves depth and perspective in his work, while keeping the actual representation as basic as possible. Balancing between the provocative and humorous, most of the works depict feminine characters during a time of relaxation or pleasure. Taking inspiration from the images he sees in his head during time off work, he playfully explores simple pleasures from staying in bed and reading a book to reclining poolside.
Discuss Parra here.
