HOME
An new exhibition by Remi Rough at Scream London 8th October - 3rd November 2015
“Remi Rough continues to challenge the boundaries of contemporary painting as he traverses between the collected history of art and today’s urban lexicon. Thematically he continues to explore associations between Suprematist concepts, Abstract Expressionism and Graffiti Art, which in both practice and theory produce a new category of modernist painting, one that reflects the grit and modernity of today’s thinking. Balancing both precision with the deft of an architect’s mind and the unrestrained expressiveness of an action painter, the conflicts produced between bold and exacting forms that fold and jut across the canvases contrast beautifully against the rigorousness of brushed and sprayed gestures. Remi has developed a signature concept that has maintained strict parameters around these well conceived paintings. He continues to work with minimal color palettes that are identifiable to his oeuvre. One identifier is his use of hinting neon florescence in shapes and shades which plays out through many of his works. ‘Home’ as titled, is not just a returning but a place, a sanctuary for these ideas that he has nurtured and modelled after his post graffiti experiences. In these works one can appreciate the arc of his development from a modest name painter to a fully matured modernist painter.” - Carlos Mare
Photo by Pavel Dziurzynski
‘Home’ alludes to London itself. Remi Rough was born in South East London in 1971 and has lived and worked in the city ever since. He is a leading figure within the new movement of urban modernist painters (Graffuturists / Graffuturism), who has adopted the theories and practices of the modern masters that preceded him. This new body of work explores the relationship of balance, tension and color with geometric theory. The many formative years spent as a young practitioner of ‘graffiti style writing’ have referenced these forward thinking abstractions. The letter forms and wild styles have progressed into a mature language of ‘Suprematism’.
These works are precisely designed geometric compositions that contrast heavily with their organic surfaces such as hand made papers or wood assemblages. They have more in common with the Russian constructivists of the 19th Century as they do the graffiti writers of the 20th Century. The works are more concerned with mathematical questions of shape, size, relative position of figures and forms which are fundamental in current human obsession with practical science.
Monolith 01 Graphite and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Monolith 02 Graphite and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Home Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Go faster Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Simply put Graphite and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Monolith 03 Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Black steel Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Black square Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Monolith 04 Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Fathom Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Displacement Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Gunwale Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Tight squeeze Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Beneath Graphite and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Triangularity 06 Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Compression Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Triangularity 07 Graphite, ink and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Cascade Graphite and spray paint on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Composition 01 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 02 Ink and spray paint on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 03 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Letter R 01 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 04 Ink and spray paint on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Basquiat boogie Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Letter R 02 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Letter R 03 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Spetsnaz Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 05 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 06 Ink and spray paint on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 07 Ink and spray paint on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Composition 08 Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
Meerane Ink on paper 29.7cm x 21cm
The Animist Mixed media on canvas 106cm x 106cm
Cinqo Mixed media on canvas 106cm x 106cm
Dragunov Graphite and spray paint on assembled wood 77cm x 67.5cm
Disambiguation Graphite and spray paint on assembled wood 166.5cm x 148cm
Incision 01 Ink, spray paint and incisions on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Incision 02 Ink, spray paint and incisions on paper 42cm x 29.7cm
Maquette for steel sculpture
HOME - Remi Rough 8th October - 3rd November 2015 Scream London 27 - 28 Eastcastle St. London W1W 8DH
Design and layout by Remi Rough Curated by Ruth Wilkinson Artwork photography by Rob Kennard Portrait photograph by Pavel Dziurzynski
www.remirough.com www.screamlondon.com
All works Š 2015 Remi Rough