Mark Ryden's latest solo exhibition, "Eye Am," at Perrotin Los Angeles is a surreal dreamscape of wonder and whimsy. The show, which debuted in late October, was a veritable pageant of costumed devotees and fantastical creatures, each wandering the exhibition space as if lost in their own private world.
At the heart of Ryden's oeuvre lies an obsessive fascination with the uncanny, the recondite, and the unapologetically kitsch. Through his work, he offers a tantalizing invitation to enter a world of rabbit holes and tightly packed wonderlands, where spiritual peace is as elusive as it is desirable.
Ryden's artistic practice is a masterclass in technical virtuosity, conceptual clarity, and intuitive leaps of faith. He weaves together disparate threads from pop culture, mythology, and the subconscious, conjuring worlds that defy direct interpretation. For Ryden, art is not about explaining; it's about evoking.
One of the hallmarks of Ryden's work is its use of symbolism, which can be both personal and deeply symbolic. Take, for example, his recent series of paintings featuring yams, each one imbued with a mystery that resists straightforward explanation. "The yam," Ryden admits, "is not meant to be understood; it's simply a vehicle to spiritual enlightenment."
This is perhaps the defining aspect of Ryden's art – its willingness to venture into the unknown, embracing the absurd and the eerie in equal measure. His works are an invitation to join him on this journey of discovery, to surrender to the whimsy and wonder that underlies them all.
At Perrotin Los Angeles, "Eye Am" showcases 12 new works by Ryden, each one a testament to his boundless imagination and technical skill. The show is a must-see for fans of Pop Surrealism, as well as anyone drawn to the strange, the fantastical, or simply the sublime.
In short, Mark Ryden's "Eye Am" is an artistic experience that defies categorization, yet is deceptively simple in its intentions. It is a celebration of the human spirit, in all its contradictions and complexities – a testament to the power of art to transport us to realms both wondrous and unknown.
At the heart of Ryden's oeuvre lies an obsessive fascination with the uncanny, the recondite, and the unapologetically kitsch. Through his work, he offers a tantalizing invitation to enter a world of rabbit holes and tightly packed wonderlands, where spiritual peace is as elusive as it is desirable.
Ryden's artistic practice is a masterclass in technical virtuosity, conceptual clarity, and intuitive leaps of faith. He weaves together disparate threads from pop culture, mythology, and the subconscious, conjuring worlds that defy direct interpretation. For Ryden, art is not about explaining; it's about evoking.
One of the hallmarks of Ryden's work is its use of symbolism, which can be both personal and deeply symbolic. Take, for example, his recent series of paintings featuring yams, each one imbued with a mystery that resists straightforward explanation. "The yam," Ryden admits, "is not meant to be understood; it's simply a vehicle to spiritual enlightenment."
This is perhaps the defining aspect of Ryden's art – its willingness to venture into the unknown, embracing the absurd and the eerie in equal measure. His works are an invitation to join him on this journey of discovery, to surrender to the whimsy and wonder that underlies them all.
At Perrotin Los Angeles, "Eye Am" showcases 12 new works by Ryden, each one a testament to his boundless imagination and technical skill. The show is a must-see for fans of Pop Surrealism, as well as anyone drawn to the strange, the fantastical, or simply the sublime.
In short, Mark Ryden's "Eye Am" is an artistic experience that defies categorization, yet is deceptively simple in its intentions. It is a celebration of the human spirit, in all its contradictions and complexities – a testament to the power of art to transport us to realms both wondrous and unknown.
it's like steppin into a surrealist dreamworld, full of fantastical creatures & costumed devotees just mindin their bizness 
the guy's obsession with the uncanny & kitsch is straight fire 
his art is all about evokin emotions & vibes rather than explainerin everything u gotta get lost in the wonderland 
and btw, those yam paintings are TO. DIE. FOR 
Ryden's like a master of symbolism, weavin' together pop culture, mythology, & subconscious to create somethin entirely new 
anyway, if ur into that weird & wonderful sh*t, u gotta get to "Eye Am" ASAP 
Mark Ryden's "Eye Am" is like stepping into a fever dream world where nothing makes sense, but somehow it all works 
his use of symbolism is so clever, you can't help but get lost in the labyrinthine wonderlands he creates 
I mean, who wouldn't want to join him on this journey of discovery? 
the exhibit is like a masterclass in artistry, blending technical skill with conceptual clarity 
and not knowing what to expect. The use of symbolism is really interesting too, like how he incorporates yams in his paintings - I wonder what kind of spiritual enlightenment he thinks we can gain from them 
he uses symbolism in a way that's both personal and super symbolic, like his yam paintings 
anyway i'm totally in love with the surreal vibes of this show 
Mark Ryden's art is like stepping into a dreamworld - it's so vivid and immersive. I mean, have you seen his yam paintings? 
Plus, his attention to detail and technical skill are insane! 
I'm totally enamored with Mark Ryden's latest exhibition "Eye Am" at Perrotin Los Angeles 
The way he weaves together disparate threads from pop culture and mythology is nothing short of magical 
I'm particularly intrigued by his recent yam series – who knew a humble root vegetable could be so deeply symbolic? 
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