Robert Lazzarini Distorts Movie Title Cards in "Rated R for Violence" Exhibition
Curated by Emma Frank.
Robert Lazzarini is the New York-based artist known for his distorted subjects across paintings and sculptures. Lazzarini champions the use of material in his sculptural practice, solely using real-life materials to realistically reimagine the objects that he chooses to highlight in each work such as wired fences or his official KAWS Companion collaboration back in 2010. As for his two-dimensional pieces, Lazzarini places emphasis on the subjects themselves to generate particular feelings depending on the composition.
Lazzrini is the focus of a solo exhibition at LA’s Lowell Ryan Projects gallery curated by Emma Frank. Entitled “Rated R for Violence,” the presentation features a selection of small and large paintings that feature distorted versions of traditional red title cards seen prior to movie previews. The artist touches on the commodification of violence in the entertainment industry as he manipulates the typography in each work as they appear to have bodily injury such as nicks, scrapes, cuts and abrasions. He also presents a batch of small paintings portraying video game ratings featuring text such as “Rated M for mature content.”
“The fact that Americans are increasingly obsessed with heightened levels of violence in our entertainment says as much about the commodification of violence as it does about the ever-increasing blur between violence in reality and fictional violence. The prevalence of violence across all media adds to this confusion. ‘Rated R for violence’ focuses on America’s dark fascination and language as a signifier for the pain and suffering of others,” as per a statement by the gallery.
Check out select works for “Rated R for Violence” in the slideshow above. The exhibition is on view through August 14.
Elsewhere in art, artists navigate perceptions of Black women in “Mother of Mankind” exhibition.
Lowell Ryan Projects
4619 W Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
