MARK WHALEN: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT examines the world of artist Mark Whalen (AKA Kill Pixie), who explores the human condition through his stunning body of work. Using a tightly controlled painting technique, Whalen expresses satirical social narratives through universal situations. Strange hooded characters caught in the throes of ambiguous action, shimmering trees, geometric patterns, architectural anomalies and intricate textural beads of color collide in kaleidoscopic intensity, at once immaculately composed and careening out of control. Whalen uses sly oppositions to reflect life's puzzling duality; evoking dark humor through luminous color, chaos through controlled detail, the sublime through the specific. Whalen employs a seductive synesthesia that sheds new light on humanity: which, like his works, is both erotic and oppressive, vibrant and reclusive, beautiful and uncanny.
About Mark Whalen
Mark Whalen is a Los Angeles based artist. He received his Diploma in Graphic Design from Martin College, Australia.
Since 2006, Whalen’s work has shown in a constant stream of sold-out gallery exhibitions in Los Angeles, London, Berlin, and Australia. He was included in 2009’s Apocalypse Wow! Exhibition at MACRO Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome, Italy. His work has appeared in publications such as Juxtapoz, Modart Europe, Arkitip, Art Ltd., Anthem, and Monster Children - Issue 30 (May 2011).
In 2008, Whalen was awarded the Sydney Music, Arts & Culture Award for Best Visual Artist, and in 2009 he was named in the Top 100 Creative Catalysts by the Creative Sydney festival.
Essay
LA CANVAS Arts (and Books) Editor Shana Nys Dambrot is an art
critic, curator, and author based in Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared
in publications including the LA Weekly, Artkrush, Daily Dose, Bluecanvas,
Modern Painters, Art Review, Artweek, ArtLtd, ARTnews, The Believer, tema
celeste, Angeleno, Art Asia Pacific, Coagula, and Juxtapoz. She was the
Managing Editor at Flavorpill.com until late 2010, and is currently LA
Editor for Whitehot Magazine. Her monthly culture column, Urban Scrawl,
lives at Createfixate.com, and a full account of her activities is
periodically updated at
sndx.net.
Design by acclaimed artist Cleon Peterson.
His work is
represented by
UNITED STATES:
Merry Karnowsky Gallery,
Los Angeles.
AUSTRALIA:
Black Art Projects,
Melbourne.
Edwina Corlette Gallery,
Brisbane. Gallery
A.S.,
Sydney
Technical specifications