Monday, February 27, 2023

Mischievous Dogs, Moldy Fruit, and Crustacean Claws Unsettle Sabrina Bockler’s Still Lifes

A painting of two dogs wreaking havoc on a lavish table set with fruit and fish

“Table Manners” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 36 x 60 inches. All images © Sabrina Bockler, shared with permission

Two small dogs with long, silky hair stand atop an elegant table, one pawing at a basket of fruit and the other retrieving a fish from a platter. A bowl of strawberries has already been upturned, flowers pulled from their arrangement, a thickly piped slice of cake squashed by careless gluttony. Rendered in acrylic on linen, the still life (shown below) is titled “Decadence and Disaster,” an apt phrase to describe much of Sabrina Bockler’s body of work.

The Brooklyn-based artist relishes in mischief and disruption, painting scenes of opulence destroyed by pets or unsettled by an uncanny, foreboding feeling. Her works often imply a painstaking labor visible only through the resulting decorations, the crustacean towers, perfectly sliced melon, and floral bouquets cascading from their vases. Given the domestic nature of the settings, those preparations are coded feminine and part of Bockler’s broader inquiry into the value of women’s work.

She shares with Colossal that while she references the history of Dutch still lifes, her uncanny, surreal approach asks viewers “to think beyond the traditional aesthetic, creating a sense of chaos within a decorative still life.” Instead, Bockler strives “to encourage a reexamination of traditional gender assumptions surrounding labor and its division. My practice allows me to directly consider the ways my identity and experiences as a woman inform my identity as an artist.”

If you’re in Los Angeles, stop by Hashimoto Contemporary to see “Old Fruit” and “Decadence and Disaster” as part of the group exhibition Potluck running through March 11. Bockler is also currently preparing for a solo show titled Menagerie that opens on May 13 at BEERS London, which will “(draw) on the notion of animals being used as symbols of social power or for decorative purposes.” Find more of her lavish works on her site and Instagram.

 

A painting of two dogs standing on a tabletop with a bouquet, fruit, and cake

“Decadence and Disaster” (2023), acrylic on linen over panel, 24 x 36 inches

A painting of a fruit and flower tower wiht blues and pinks

“Centerpiece” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 30 x 30 inches

A painting of a tower of crustaceons with two claws on either side holding lit taper candles

“Candelabra” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 18 x 18 inches

A painting of a melon cut to reveal it's insides with other sliced fruits and flowers on the table

“Summer Solstice” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 18 x 18 inches

A detail photo of a painting of a crustaceon claw holding a lit taper candle

Detail of “Candelabra” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 18 x 18 inches

A detail photo of a pinting with fish, fruit, flowers, and a nearly empty martini glass

Detail of “Table Manners” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 36 x 60 inches

A painting of a dog grabbing fish from a table strewn with flowers and molding fruit

“Old Fruit” (2022), acrylic on linen over panel, 16 x 16 inches

A detail photo of a painting of a long haired dog pawing fruit from an overturned basket

Detail of “Decadence and Disaster” (2023), acrylic on linen over panel, 24 x 36 inches

A painting of a vase holding flowers overflowing from the right side with a butterfly against the blue backdrop

“Overflow” (2022), acrylic and paperclay on linen over panel, 16 x 20 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Mischievous Dogs, Moldy Fruit, and Crustacean Claws Unsettle Sabrina Bockler’s Still Lifes appeared first on Colossal.



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