The artwork presents a whimsical and surreal desk composed of various everyday objects. The muted, earthy tones of the cardboard structure create a minimalist and industrial aesthetic, while the vibrant, mismatched objects atop the desk add an element of playfulness and spontaneity. The juxtaposition of the mundane and the fantastical suggests a commentary on the nature of creativity and the unexpected ways in which we can reimagine the mundane. The artist's intention may be to challenge the conventional notion of a workspace and encourage a more imaginative and unconventional approach to design and function. ...
Genesis Belanger orchestrates mise-en-scene settings from twisting everyday objects into psychologically charged idiosyncrasies. Working in ceramics, cast-concrete sculpture, installation and painting, she employs the vocabulary of 1950s American advertising and explores contexts of liminal spaces such as hotel lobbies, supermarkets and waiting rooms. Absent bodies are present through pastel-toned twisted hands holding mouths, eyes landing in soup, fingers sprouting from bouquets of flowers, burgers, beauty products and half-smoked cigarettes. Bridging Pop art and Surrealism, Belanger’s objects and scenes narrate capitalist myths, with symbols of contemporary culture presented as seducing and uncanny. Satisfying in their smooth shapes and tender colour, the artist’s works translate the dissatisfaction and anxiety caused by consumerist culture and its power structures.
Written by Goldsmiths CCA ...
Since 2009, François Ghebaly has presented an innovative, eclectic program of Los Angeles-based and international artists. With a history of identifying and championing diverse voices and emerging talent, the gallery’s roster has grown to include 27 artists and 2 artist estates, ranging from early career, such as Sharif Farrag and Ludovic Nkoth, to mid-career, like Christine Sun Kim, Meriem Bennani, Kelly Akashi, Farah Al Qasimi, and Genesis Belanger, to well established, including Sayre Gomez, Kathleen Ryan, Neïl Beloufa and Candice Lin as well as underground legends, like Patrick Jackson and Mike Kuchar. The gallery advances the reach of its artists’ visions by publishing exhibition catalogues and producing artist editions. Located since 2013 in a 12,000 square foot warehouse space in Downtown Los Angeles, the gallery is a mainstay of the burgeoning Arts District community, and recently expanded to New York's Lower East Side. François Ghebaly’s program demonstrates a commitment to challenging work across all media and to fostering the progressive, boundary-pushing practices of its artists. ...
