KEN FLEWELLYN 'REMIX'
January 21, 2023 - March 17, 2023 (THE BRAND LIBRARY & ARTS CENTER, GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA)
“Since my last solo show in 2019, the world is a changed place. But I view this new reality from the lens of my history and the culture that has shaped me. The community of artists and friends that surround me helped me stay focused and sane. While there are similar themes from my previous shows, I have been looking inward to my personal experiences more. Self examination is not always easy, and it may take some time for me to open up to people. My hope is to continue to share pieces, like a remix tape of familiar songs, with a new twist. As an extra bonus, my longtime friend, mentor, and Thinkspace Projects co-founder LC collaborated on meaningful pieces with me. His collages and my paintings combine to capture the true essence of a mixtape... bringing a certain vibe when you need it most. I hope this remix sends you on a sonic journey through art.”
ARTIST BIO
Inspired by his lifelong love of Hip Hop and his coming of age as a boy during its golden age in the 80s, Flewellyn’s work has always been about music and its impact on his personal vantage point and outlook on the world. As a cultural form, Hip Hop emerged from a localized cultural moment only to evolve into a variegated and international form that would systemically embrace the freedom of appropriation, and the complexity of multiple voices. This idea of cultural heterogeneity has influenced recurring themes in his imagery and has shaped his belief in the positive power of cultural mash-up.
The subjects of his paintings remain anonymous, visible only by hands, body, and gestures, seldom, if ever, are faces or individuals revealed in their entirety. The subject’s identity, as a result, is relayed by the presence of revelatory objects, tattoos, and accessories – external clues that point to something beyond the seen and allow for the aesthetic to prevail over individuation or the distraction of specificity. That being said, however, Flewellyn depicts real women based on actual people – friends, and strangers – anchoring his imagery in reality rather than unrealistic idealizations.
The juxtaposition of formal cultural garb and pop cultural accoutrements keeps the work fascinating. These tightly cropped compositions are always informed by the presence of Hip Hop imagery, whether in the form of boom boxes, tapes, gold chains or typography. Playful and energized with tactility and detail, they’re both sensual and contemporary – solemn and light.