Salt Lake City – Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) is proud to present Tala Madani, a solo exhibition for the recipient of the 2013 Catherine Doctorow Prize for Contemporary Painting.
Merging the satire of political cartoons with the style of American abstraction, L.A.-based artist Tala Madani creates underground worlds where middle-aged men flaunt and frolic in scenes of social calamity and fraternal absurdity. Through her drawings, paintings and animations, themes of gender identity, group dynamic and power structures continually surface as her male protagonists are positioned in subordinate roles that question traditional concepts of masculinity.
UMOCA is the first museum to present a survey of Tala Madani’s painted animations. As time-based assemblages of dozens of paintings, Madani’s bold colors and quick brush work shifts between figuration and abstraction placing bumbling male bodies in situations of ridiculous violence, primal obsessions and biological processes. Much like her work on canvas, Madani’s animations playfully deconstruct western assumptions of masculinity through contrasts between comedy and seriousness, fantasy and reality as well as tolerance and taboo.
Madani’s work plays with visual language to discuss concerns about racial and gender differences at a global level. “Themes of corporeality and etymology express the complexity of social pathos and reveal unconventional channels for reflection and contemplation,” explains Associate Curator Rebecca Maksym.
“In this way, her work stages a feminist critique of an omnipotent patriarchy through a symbolic language that undermines our expectations and challenges the woes of insular thinking.”
Join UMOCA on October 4th at 7 PM for an art talk with the artist herself. Hosted by Associate Curator Rebecca Maksym, Tala Madani will talk about the imagery, themes and process of her work.
About The Artist
Tala Madani (b. Iran 1981) received her MFA from Yale University School of Art in 2006 and made her solo debut in 2007. Recent solo exhibitions include: Rip Image, Moderna Museet Malmö & Stockholm (2013); The Jinn, Stedelijk Museum Bureau, Amsterdam (2011); Manual Man, Pilar Corrias, London (2011). Recent group exhibitions include: The Future Generation Art Prize@Venice 2013, Palazzo Contarini Polignac, Venice (2013); New works 13.1, Artpace, San Antonio (2013); No Borders, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol (2013); He disappeared into complete silence; rereading a single artwork by Louise Bourgeois, Museum De Hallen, Amsterdam (2011); Speech Matters, Danish Pavilion at the 54th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennial (2011); The Great New York, P.S. 1 MoMA, New York (2010); 4th Tirana International Contemporary Art Biennial, Tirana (2009); Greater New Younger than Jesus, New Museum, New York (2009).
About UMOCA
The award-winning Utah Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits groundbreaking artwork by local, national, and international artists. Four gallery spaces provide an opportunity for the community to explore the contemporary cultural landscape through UMOCA’s exhibitions, films, events, classes, and presentations.
The award-winning Utah Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits groundbreaking artwork by local, national, and international artists. Four gallery spaces provide an opportunity for the community to explore the contemporary cultural landscape through UMOCA’s exhibitions, films, events, classes, and presentations.
Founded in 1931, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art has been recognized as Best Museum in the State of Utah for 2011, 2012 and 2013 is a four-time recipient of funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation.
Located at 20 S. West Temple; open Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is free; $5 donation is appreciated. For more information call (801) 328-4201 or visit www.utahmoca.org.
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