ADAM AND EVE AND THE IPHONE, A COMPREHENSIVE |
 Torn Founders Thomas, oil on canvas, John Slaby |  Flag, oil on canvas, John Slaby |
Torn Founders George, oil on canvas, John Slaby If the mind is a camera, this three year collection of work by John Slaby (on view through October 3rd at Archway Gallery, Houston) is evidence of the multi-focus attention he has paid to the world that surrounds him. His lens is dark, and the content of his art is a compelling warning about the devastating affects of the iPhone on our culture. Our addiction to this digital device is iron-clad.
John Slaby’s work is seductive. When first entering the gallery this month, the bold color palettes will captivate you, as well as his mastery of portraying realistic images in paint. The wall he calls the “Torn Founders” will hijack your eyes and won’t let go until you walk closer to see it. Painted scotch tape holds together the images of torn fragments of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s portraits on paper, and a ripped up image of the American flag. It is a commentary, in part, of our current political climate.
John Slaby’s work is seductive. When first entering the gallery this month, the bold color palettes will captivate you, as well as his mastery of portraying realistic images in paint. The wall he calls the “Torn Founders” will hijack your eyes and won’t let go until you walk closer to see it. Painted scotch tape holds together the images of torn fragments of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s portraits on paper, and a ripped up image of the American flag. It is a commentary, in part, of our current political climate.
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Phone Prison Framed, oil on canvas, John Slaby Then your gaze will move to the South wall of the gallery where 109 hand-made, life-sized replicas of the phone are displayed in a format that is in proportion to the dimensions of the iPhone. Most of the on screen images are typical of photographs that people take. The larger paintings of the phones carry urgent observations, portraying the cell phone’s home pages with its icons to suggest the bars of a prison cell, capable of entrapping its users to squander endless hours of time, surfing the web or social media, day by day. “Phone Prison” is the most poignant example of this motif, and captures the angst and vulnerability of Slaby’s face, incarcerated behind his screen, and defenseless against its apps which delineate the psychological consequences of addictive phone use. These social and emotional consequences, and the isolation of disappearing down the rabbit hole of digital content are serious observations and warnings that the artist is bringing to our attention.
The Serpent, oil on canvas, John Slaby
A large painting dominates the North wall of the gallery. “The Serpent” (and its earlier version,“Triumph of the Limbic System”) are pictorial synopses of the end results of our current temptations slowly killing us. John Slaby loves to compile images of sinister, evil vices into one illustrational format, and when he does so, his dry humor emerges. There is a certain comic element in seeing objects of our desire that can contribute to our own downfall assembled in one place ( as in “Triumph of the Limbic System”). However, the consumption of items from Slaby’s own list of modern temptations: “fat, sugar, salt, coffee, alcohol, drugs, video games and social media” can lead to a much more difficult outcome to witness, and especially to act out in the later stages of life.
John Slaby’s artist talk on the opening night of his exhibition never fails to please. This time, his iPhone was placed on a tripod, elevated to its maximum extent, placing it above Slaby’s head. A shoulder’s up image of John was moving on the screen. Suddenly it spoke!
“SORRY I cannot be here in person!” And what proceeded was an artist talk from the artist on the iPhone. Midway through the dialogue, the artist on the iPhone instructed John, standing close by, to hold up an illustration. “NO! Higher! NO! MUCH HIGHER!!!!!” A conversation began, going back and forth. John, holding up the illustration, asked, “Exactly HOW MUCH HIGHER?” The timing of the IPhone’s Artist’s Talk was impeccable, and the banter back and forth was spot on.
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