Piet van den Boog: Ophelia February 26, 2009 - March 28, 2009
We are taught to never take anything at face value, to delve beneath the surface whenever possible, and somehow unearth full meaning and full appreciation. There are always those that will by nature extract a silver lining from anything and everything that to the rest of us appears lost. In his latest body of works on black steel, Piet van den Boog flawlessly succeeds at the seemingly unattainable task of taking melancholy, desperation and violence and finding in it not only beauty, but understanding as well as peace.
Mike Weiss Gallery is pleased to announce Ophelia, an exhibition featuring new works by Dutch artist Piet van den Boog. Working on black steel, the remarkable renditions of splashing water in van den Boog�s works are intentionally reminiscent of our Ophelia�s watery grave. This is the ultimate descent into madness, highlighting feelings of loss and rejection. For the artist however, the water is a place of comfort, a sanctuary for his characters where they will finally let go and no longer feel; they will release all worry and all pain.
Such are the views towards drowning as the cold, black steel is to the soft flesh and detailed features of the personalities in the artist�s works. Furthermore, this contrast in the artist�s materials and process is a strong reflection on the perceptions of Ophelia�s character in literary studies. It is interesting to view the work with a contrasting notion of Ophelia in mind, representing the dual nature of women. While looking first at the icy dark metal, the perception of our heroine as a callous, sexual predator comes into play. However, to a select few, those not yet blinded by hurt, Ophelia may very well represent the epitome of goodness as she is childlike and na�ve; illustrated through soft fleshy tones and true to nature detail. Where are the viewers to turn, however, when they take to seeing Ophelia through the eyes of the young prince Hamlet who believes that the women who seem to be the most pure based on their exterior are black inside with corruption and sexual desire?
For further information, please contact Helene Necroto, Director. 212 691 6899
