TOUR: STRANGE WEATHER, ANDREW SALGADO BEERS LONDON

TOUR: strange weather, andrew salgado
beers london

Canadian-British artist Andrew Salgado returns to Beers London for his fourth solo exhibition with the gallery. Strange Weather leads the viewer through a trail like chapters in a magic-realist novel, allowing them a peek at Salgado’s strange world of allusions, appropriations, nods to art-history, various inspirations, and a host of subtle literary references.

Beers London

Andrew Salgado’s paintings have evolved greatly since the large-scale, painterly portraits he became known for almost a decade ago, and though they have become less autobiographical and increasingly stylized, it can be maintained that ultimately, his paintings are about the ‘human condition’.

Unfurling over almost 20 pieces, the exuberant body of work continues his development of fantastical narratives, mythology-building, and contemplation of the individual. All of this is exhibited through skillful handling of colour, a knack for powerful (if admittedly ‘off-kilter’) compositions, a laboured surface texture, as well as a wry sense of humour.

Below, Andrew narrates us through five pieces from his current solo exhibition Strange Weather on view at Beers London from October 17 - November 21, 2020.

Andrew Salgado The Orgy in the Grass (Or, The Young Spartans) (After Degas) 2020 Oil, pastel, and mixed media collage on canvas. 355 x 205 cm. Courtesy of Beers London and the artist. — Andrew Salgado
The Orgy in the Grass
(Or, The Young Spartans) (After Degas) 2020
Oil, pastel, and mixed media collage on canvas. 355 x 205 cm.
Courtesy of Beers London and the artist.

inquire

THE ORGY ON THE GRASS
(OR, THE YOUNG SPARTANS) (AFTER DEGAS)

For over a decade I have wanted to do a play on this peculiar little piece by Degas, called Young Spartans Exercising. I tried, in my postgraduate degree in 2009, and it didn't really turn out; like a hangnail or an itch this painting has constantly tugged at me. I revisited it again for this show and it was a massive undertaking. Its the largest piece I've ever done, measuring 3.5m (140") and became this indulgent and seductive exploration in paint and experimentation. It allowed me to really unhinge myself from this desire to properly resolve everything. It’s chaotic, it’s over the top, it’s indulgent. Despite what people may think, my work is still quite tight, quite ordered...this, really, is the antithesis of that. I think it will really surprise people.

“
All the paintings
- like a magic realist novel - lay somewhere between what is entirely explainable, and what is absolute fantasy.

”

ANDREW SALGADO

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THE CHAMPAGNE NIGHTMARE
(OR, THE IMPORTALIST)

I create a narrative in my head, as much as I try to curate a logical order of works within the gallery space. For me, the show plays upon themes of isolation, and within that isolation, a type of abscondment from reality. So I think all the paintings - like a magic realist novel - lay somewhere between what is entirely explainable, and what is absolute fantasy. I read a lot, and I almost see this guy as a stand-in for me; the story begins with him, the smoke trail is almost like a monstrous finger, leading him forward. Which I think is interesting because in my head, at least, is he responsible for putting something out into the world, or is some otherworldly force pulling him forward? I don't know. I don't need to know.

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CREATURE COMFORTS

For me, this is the piece that best encapsulates the entire show. However it's really crisp and tight when compared to many of the other works. After the show was postponed from May, this piece became my guiding light. For me, he's the undeniable centrepiece of the show. The pose of the boy is taken from this German photographer Wilhelm von Gloebel who went to Taormina in the early 19th century and took these hebephilic photos of young boys. The photos are interesting, bizarre, uncomfortable, for many reasons. But there's a strange beauty in the idea of innocence lost and voyeurism and first world privilege. And something occurred over the past few months, with those same themes, and it seemed relevant. Next idea... when I was nearing the end of the show, I realized he needed a counterpart, so I created the Neon Odalisque as a means to balance him. For me, they're competing. Like [on the TV show] Dancing with the Stars, they're showing off.

“
She breaks all the so-called compositional
rules.

”

ANDREW SALGADO

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NEON ODALISQUE

Oh I really love her. I am literally plucking my subjects from the annals of art-history. I don't have a hierarchy - any period, any artist. Even Instagram. Google. I like the idea that the ubiquity of imagery is also inherently limiting... we are guided by impressions and popularity. So I was stealing imagery. And Ingres' Odalisque kept popping up in my head and on my feed, and I thought, okay, she wants to be seen. But I threw a big white nude woman in front of her - she breaks all the so-called compositional rules. She's too big, too white, too centre. Sometimes when we embrace all those no-no’s they become yes-yeses.

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STRANGE WEATHER

This is my title piece because this solitary dude became all of us. With his books, with his cat, with his wine. Watching the time pass by. And yes, the clock actually works.

Andrew Salgado (b. 1982, Regina, Canada) lives and works in London, England. He graduated with an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2009. Previous solo exhibitions include: ‘Blue Rainbow’ Angell Gallery, Toronto, (October 2018); ‘Nature Boy’, Beers London, (2018); ‘Dirty Linen’, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town (2018); ‘A Room with a View of the Ocean’, Lauba Art House, Zagreb (2017); ‘The Snake’, Beers London, (2016); ‘The Fool Makes a Joke at Midnight’, Thierry Goldberg, New York (2016). He has received extensive press both online and in print, including GQ, The Evening Standard, The Independent, Artsy, METRO, Attitude Magazine, Globe and Mail (CAN) and Macleans (CAN).

Andrew Salgado’s Strange Weather is on view at Beers London from October 17 - November 21, 2020. For inquiries or to schedule a visit, email info@beerslondon.com .

Rebeca LaliberteOctober 16, 2020

TOUR: STRANGE WEATHER, ANDREW SALGADO BEERS LONDON