September 11 – October 13, 2012
AKASHA ART PROJECT
The perception of an art exhibition that includes large images of Bruce Cockburn, Ron Sexsmith and Prince might make a viewer believe that they are at a celebration of music rather than art. This body of work by Kevin Kelly, entitled ‘Rock & Religion’, pieces together imagery from an evolving body of work which brings two worlds together so that they read as one.
Hell is real – dimensions 48×32- photograph on hand-manipulated steel 2012
‘Rock & Religion’ juxtaposes evangelical iconography with the rock idol, while at the same time administering similarities between the two. It began with a journey down a Southern U.S. freeway where Kelly was struck with by religious signage. Placed in conjunction with familiar faces of popular rock culture, these religious images take on the same identifiable and iconographic nature as the famous individuals hung next to them. While these two worlds might at first seem quite dissimilar, the reception of each in Kelly’s mind is quite the same; he sees the behaviors associated with religion – worship, praise, idolization – not at all unlike the social reaction to rock stars who have maintained an iconic status in society.
Brendan Canning – 48×48 – photograph on hand-manipulated steel 2012
There is also the social stigma that these two genres attach to one another. What makes this show interesting is Kelly’s ability to see the similarities even in the dissimilarities of these two worlds and pull it all together. He has captured both rock and roll and religion with the same honest, caught-in-the-moment, grittiness.
Iggy Pop – 16×24 – photograph on hand-manipulated steel 2012
Each work is mounted on hand-manipulated steel ranging in size from sixteen by twenty-four inches all the way up to pieces as large as forty-eight by forty-eight. Some of the works are hung individually, with others in diptychs, quadrants or stacked. This provides a variety of viewing experience from different perspectives, both in relation to one another and on their own.
By taking imagery that might seem glaringly obvious and presenting it in a new context, Kelly has offered the observer a chance to engage with the subject matter in a new way – to understand these images alone but also for their preoccupation with each other.
Tower with Prince, Bryan Ferry, Teddy Furry and Religious sign – photographs on hand-manipulated steel – each piece 24×16 – individual works displayed together.2012
Kevin Kelly’s “Rock & Religion” runs until October 13, 2012 at akasha art projects, 511 Church Street, Suite 200, with a closing reception on October 11 from 7-9 pm.
by Kelli Jerome