With a continued focus on introducing young contemporary painters, PDP Gallery has just opened Colorado, a first solo show by Mohamed l'Ghacham, on view through November 5th. Known for successfully amplifying a bold painterly technique into sprawling murals, the artist features a series of work made after a visit to Colorado in May 2018.
After long traveling the globe and painting atmospheric public works that celebrate the lives of everyday people, l'Ghacham awaits this opportunity to finally present his studio work in public. During a NY-LA road trip in early 2018, l'Ghacham visited the land of the Rockies and was inspired to paint 19 new pieces that speak of traveling and meeting new people. With the oldest work only 20 months old, the selection presents a very current stage of interest and practice for the young painter, who revels in the diverse geography in work that transmutes the artist's experiences into visuals of collective memory.
With an ongoing emphasis on the atmosphere and emotional experience of the moment, each work invites a browse through a family photo album. Images of everyday life, such as moments from a camping trip, interior details and domestic activities, are imbued with the warmth of closeness and immediacy. Stripped of unnecessary details, the paintings are rendered with a raw visual language where decisive brushstrokes create picture and ambiance. Subjects are almost faceless while their surroundings and actions dictate the mood and narrative. Alongside the new series of paintings, l'Ghacham painted two mural interventions, making a connection between his studio practice and outdoor works, each underscoring the theme of the show. –Sasha Bogojev
