The Invisible Dog is thrilled to announce it’s 16th season opening with When Lightning Strikes, an exhibition of sixteen new paintings by resident artist Gabe Benzur.
When Lightning Strikes is a part of the 2024 Armory Show’s cultural program.
Gabe Benzur’s meticulous oil paintings depict vibrant, supernatural landscapes that invite viewers to immerse themselves in otherworldly realms. Drawing inspiration from a quote by Seneca about Etruscan religion, each painting explores different facets of Etruscan mythology. Through imaginative interpretations of gods, sacred places, and the underworld, Benzur translates fragmented archaeological and historical records into visual spectacles. These works transport viewers into realms of superstition and primordial possibility, where the gap between known and unknown becomes a fertile ground for exploring color and belief.
Benzur begins with digital synthetic imagery and collage to create crude sketches, which he then transforms into full-size drawings transferred to canvas. His materials-focused approach involves building thin layers of oil paint to create depth, using traditional methods and materials from the 16th and 17th centuries. Paint chemistry is crucial in preserving color and structure. Benzur’s experimental techniques result in canvases that vary in detail, texture, depth, and scale. He creates novel color mixtures by mixing ancient pigments with modern ones, solving color challenges without adhering to traditional restrictions. This blend of old and new materials reflects the role of technology in expanding the possibilities of traditional artistic mediums.
Mythology is woven into each painting, placing the viewer at the heart of an ancient supernatural experience. In "Achrum," inspired by the Etruscan river to the underworld, viewers stand at the riverbank at the mouth of a cave between two worlds. The scene juxtaposes an inviting morning landscape with a distant mountain and a placid shore against a dark passage that may lead deeper into the underworld. The contrasting bright reds, sour greens, and greys are unified by the murky greenish water, drawing the eye to the horizon and suggesting a choice between the world of the living and the realm of the dead.
Other works, like "Selvans," named after the god of boundaries, pull viewers forward with clarity. A hazy yellow stream divides a dark forest from a small valley filled with vividly colored plants that seem to defy natural laws. The stream merges with the sky, creating a sense of dislocation and emphasizing the division between the two realms. The scene, reminiscent of a blacklight poster of a coral reef, is animated with self-illuminating life and color. Inspired by Benzur’s childhood memories of a creek behind his grandmother’s house, "Selvans" evokes a childlike wonder and the realization of the vastness of the unknown.
A painting can tell us things a photograph, or even a firsthand experience, cannot. A place is also a conduit for memory and belief. Places I’ve visited (or only read about) inspire me — but also unrelated things like cartoons, album covers, the supernatural, memories, mythology, geology, urban planning, and anatomy can work their way into a picture. I follow no specific visual lineage. I am trying to capture what I see in my head omnivorously to create a world in which I want to exist. Painting is painting. It is not a substitute for another medium. I do not want to make perfect images.
-Gabe Benzur
Gabe Benzur was born in 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. He started painting in 1991. He studied painting and drawing at Millsaps College and the École Marchutz in Aix-en-Provence, France, earning a BFA in 1998. He subsequently pursued design while actively maintaining a painting studio. He has lived in Brooklyn since 2007 and has been with the Invisible Dog since 2009. This is his first solo exhibition.
Website: www.benzur.com
Instagram: @gbenzur
Admission:
Free
Opening:
Saturday, September 7
7:00 - 10:00 pm
On view:
September 7 - October 13
Gallery Hours:
Thursday – Saturday: 1–7pm
Sunday: 1–5pm
Monday — Wednesday: By appointment only