Alzueta Gallery at KIAF Seoul 2023
Alzueta Gallery’s art fair booth presents a captivating exploration of artistic expressions that revolve around the theme of transcending boundaries. The underlying narrative weaves together diverse artists and their works, linking them through their shared commitment to pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and inspiring transformative experiences.
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
Christiansen draws upon his extensive experience working with digital drawing tools to hone the palettes and compositions of new works , preferring to begin each painting through a process of iPad-based sketching and refinement. Once an arrangement of forms has been loosely identified , Christiansen begins responding to these preliminary drawings on the surface of the canvas, focusing much more on materiality and visual sensation than any attempt to faithfully reproduce the original sketch.
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
UNTITLED
113 x 83 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
UNTITLED
113 x 83 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
UNTITLED
113 x 83 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
FRUITS I
43 x 32,5 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
FRUITS II
43 x 32,5 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
FRUITS III
43 x 32,5 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
SUNE CHRISTIANSEN
UNTITLED
113 x 83 cm
Dry pastel, oil stick, charcoal and oil on canvas
The booth showcases the vibrant and playful figurative abstractions of Sune Christiansen, whose works invite viewers to venture beyond conventional artistic forms. Gabrielle Graessle’s intuitive paintings, transitioning from charcoal drawings to sparkly compositions. Francisco Mendes Moreira’s use of recycled materials prompts reflection on eternal questions of circular identity, while James Rielly’s introspective examinations delve into the psychological complexities of life’s transitions.
Jon Koko’s serene sceneries evoke a sense of tranquility and simplicity, inviting viewers to explore the transformative power of plainness.
David Macho’s critical approach challenges established notions and encourages reevaluation of our cultural perspectives. Violeta Maya’s personal escapes through painting create a bridge to introspection and inspire positive.
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
The paintings of Swiss-born artist Gabrielle Graessle depict complex emotional and social realities with an almost hieroglyphic directness. Reveling in color and the use of spectacular, or otherwise unconventional materials such as glitter , her wilding use of paint and pigment is tempered by a sense of minimalism which might be called austere if not for the fact that her paintings are so childlike and fun Graessle’s work generally tends towards a formalism which generates its own symbology. Her allusions to themes like war, feminism, sexuality and love, are all expressed in ways that verge on abstraction.
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
UNTITLED
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
UNTITLED
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
FOREVER YOURS
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
UNTITLED
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
UNTITLED
63 x 83 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
UNTITLED
63 x 83 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
YEE YEE
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
UNTITLED
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
MMH
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
GABRIELLE GRAESSLE
MMH II
83 x 63 cm
Acrylic and Glitter on canvas
JON KOKO
Jon Koko’s work is characterised by memories of his travels and observations of the passing world, which he interprets and combines into sceneries with a touch of nostalgia and dreamlike atmosphere.
His paintings use a pale Scandinavian colour palette and simple, flat shapes to evoke tranquilly and a sense of peace and simplicity in the viewer s mind.
His long-standing interest in Eastern culture, philosophy and aesthetics, especially the Japanese universe, gives his works a certain oriental touch.
JON KOKO
MEMORIES OF ZURICH
82 x 102,5 cm
Oil, Oil stick and Pencil on linen
JON KOKO
GARDEN IN TMORNING LIGHT
82 x 102,5 cm
Oil, Oil stick and Pencil on linen
JON KOKO
MOON IN REFLECTION
82 x 102,5 cm
Oil, Oil stick and Pencil on linen
JON KOKO
WAVES IN STENDHUVUD
82 x 102,5 cm
Oil, Oil stick and Pencil on linen
Throughout the booth, a common thread emerges a shared dedication to promoting positive change and the transformative potential of art. Alzueta Gallery’s commitment to supporting artists through residencies and fostering their creative growth resonates within each artwork, allowing artists to evolve and challenge limits. The booth serves as a vibrant space that encourages dialogue, reflection, and engagement with contemporary issues.
As visitors explore the booth, they embark on a journey that transcends surface-level interpretations and engages with ethical concerns. The collective narratives of the exhibited artists link together, demonstrating the gallery’s dedication to embracing diverse perspectives and nurtu-
ring creativity. The booth becomes a platform for connection, provoking thought and inspiring viewers to consider their own roles.
JON KOKO
TREES IN MATSUE
82 x 102,5 cm
Oil, Oil stick and Pencil on linen
JON KOKO
ALONG IN LIMMAT
82 x 102,5 cm
Oil, Oil stick and Pencil on linen
DAVID MACHO
works, Macho unfolds a myriad of parallel universes where chaos and apparent disorder reign, with a constant reference to pop culture from the 2000s, both from Spain and abroad, as well as nods to recent contemporary and viral art history.
Every character depicted has their place, their space, and their reason for being in David s work. Nothing is superfluous, nothing is lacking, or perhaps it is, as it is impossible to condense in limited space everything that is part of oneself. Far from what their chaotic and crowded scenes full of people may reflect -in an allusion to the most canonical definition of the classic concept of horror vacui fear of empty space-, the artist’s work is an intimate and personal portrait. It offers a critical and nostalgic look at adolescence, a challenging stage in which he had to become an adult overnight and found refuge in television, cinema, the internet, and popular culture.
DAVID MACHO
PODRÍA SER ARTE PERO ES UN AFTER; ANDY WARHOL TE QUIERO.
2023
44,5 x 44,5 cm
Oil on paper
VIOLETA MAYA
Violeta Maya’s relationship with painting flows decisively because it is intimate and, in a way, functional in her life: far from explicitly alluding to current affairs or seeking a justifying discourse, Maya approaches the pictorial act as a genuine and personal form of escape, one that allows her to break away from the exhausting and confusing cycle of everyday life and the overdose of stimuli and images of our world.
It is through painting that Maya can consciously manage and focus her attention. It is an almost vital link with her environment. Her approach is not heavy, but rhythmic. It is not premeditated nor brainy, but rather sprouts spontaneously and, at the same time, is capable of condensing long feelings and sensations.
VIOLETA MAYA
EL SWEET-SPOT ENTRE EL CONTROL Y EL CAOS I
2023
144 x 114 cm
Pigment and acrylic on canvas
VIOLETA MAYA
EL SWEET-SPOT ENTRE EL CONTROL Y EL CAOS II
2023
144 x 114 cm
Pigment and acrylic on canvas
VIOLETA MAYA
EL SWEET-SPOT ENTRE EL CONTROL Y EL CAOS III
2023
144 x 114 cm
Pigment and acrylic on canvas
VIOLETA MAYA
EL SWEET-SPOT ENTRE EL CONTROL Y EL CAOS IV
2023
144 x 114 cm
Pigment and acrylic on canvas
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
Self-taught artist Francisco Mendes Moreira alternating between realism and abstract, he depicts through vivid colors, textures, and a unique imagery his vision of the world and how he navigates within it. Influences like western movies have shaped the way the artist perceives and reckons with life s junctions. Whether figurative or abstract patterns, his works allow the onlooker to embark on an adventurous journey, exploring the human condition and immersing oneself in a pictorial cosmos.
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
SUCO DE BARBATANA
2023
133 x 99,5 cm
Oil on canvas
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
PRINCESA
2023
76,5 x 64 cm
Oil pastel on paper
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
TRIPLE PICKLE
2023
76,5 x 64 cm
Oil pastel on paper
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
BELDROEGAS
2023
76,5 x 64 cm
Oil pastel on paper
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
ICE SKATING
2023
71 x 62 cm
Oil pastel on paper
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
HONEYDEW
2023
118,5 x 91,5 cm
Oil on canvas
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
THE KIDS CALL HIM JIMMY, THE SAINT
2023
71 x 62 cm
Oil pastel on paper
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
THE MORON BROTHERS
2023
71 x 62 cm
Oil pastel on paper
FRANCISCO MENDES MOREIRA
CAJUN STEW
2023
118,9 x 91,5 cm
Oil on canvas
JAMES RIELLY
Rielly’s works are subtle yet inherently dark. Slightly twisted psychology of the rites of passage is central to what Rielly s works meditate upon regularly. The hesitation between lifes transitions depicted as we consider whether adolescences is genuinely innocent in light of how we behave as adults.
JAMES RIELLY
DIFFERENT COLOURS FOR EVERYDAY
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
FLOWERS I
2023
76,5 x 71 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
FLOWERS II
2023
76,5 x 71 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
STARS IN THE DAY TIME
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
PINK FACE
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
GHOST IN DIFFERENT COLORED SOCKS
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
MASK AND FACE
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
GHOSTS IN LOVE
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
RED AND BLUE SOCK GHOST
2023
76 x 61 cm
Oil paint on linen
JAMES RIELLY
LOVE POURS OUT OF YOUR EYES
2023
148 x 108 cm
Watercolour on paper
In essence, Alzueta Gallery’s art fair booth presents an overarching narrative that celebrates the power of art to transcend barriers, challenge norms, and inspire transformative experiences. It invites viewers to explore the intersections of various artistic perspectives and reflect on their own potential.