If you swing by Fifty24SF's latest show, a solo exhibit by artist Rico Deniro, you might spot Bill Clinton, Kermit the Frog, or Run DMC. Or their faces, at least.
The show is full of masks depicting the mugs of celebrities, fictional characters, and friends of the artist.
But there's a twist.
The masks weren't made by Deniro, but by woodworkers in Mexico who had never seen or heard of the folks they were tasked with representing. Deniro just supplied them with photos of the subjects and let them loose. The result is fascinating; some of the faces are instantly recognizable, while others remain a mystery. As Rico Deniro describes his approach:
The masks weren't made by Deniro, but by woodworkers in Mexico who had never seen or heard of the folks they were tasked with representing. Deniro just supplied them with photos of the subjects and let them loose. The result is fascinating; some of the faces are instantly recognizable, while others remain a mystery. As Rico Deniro describes his approach:
I'm interested to see the world from non-infected minds. I lean on the last men and women of the earth who don’t use computers or technology to make things. People that use no power, and use only primitive tools and the precision of their hands to interpret dirty contrived icons of the world that the so-called "advanced civilizations" worship. The artisans have little or no relationship with most of the icons and people represented in this body of work. Highlighting the emptiness that is in direct conflict with the billions of dollars spent convincing us that these icons do have value and worth.The show only runs until Wednesday (the 26th), so make sure to swing by 218 Fillmore and check it out while you can.
