James Jarvis has created an iconic style using the least amount of frills possible. But that doesn't mean the work isn't full of emotion and narrative. In the simplest way, the work talks about universal truths and ponderings, using an iconic character to talk about art history, existentialism and contemporary culture. For his newest show at Julien Cadet, Paris, which we were able to check out last week, "Ceci n'est pas un dessin, c'est une situation," James Jarvis has taken his black and white drawings and transformed them into wall sculptures of wood and iron.
The sculptural works, which when purchased come with the original drawing as an almost certificate of authenticity, created a wonderful effect in an all-white gallery space. They look almost like wall drawings, and yet on closer inspection and seen at an angle, the works just slightly come off the wall. In a world of IG moments and art that can wow with scale and intricacy, Jarvis's sculpture works in this show are not about that result. They are more subtle, timeless conversations. Jarvis talked to us about Richard Long's iconic 1967 work, A Line Made by Walking as an inspiration for one of the works in the show, and seeing that Jarvis has taken one of his characters and applied that simple conceptual art history to it is powerful unto itself. These are works made for quiet ponderings, and Jarvis continues to get it right.
The exhibition will be on view in Paris through April 14, 2019.
Read our recent interview with James Jarvis.
