16 May 2009

Dumitru Gorzo at SLAG Gallery NYC

Dumitru Gorzo: CORE
May 14 – June 27, 2009

SLAG Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of 'Core', new works by Dumitru Gorzo.

Gorzo's second solo exhibition in gallery will include artist's recent paintings, sculptures and drawings. With this new body of work, Gorzo has concocted a formula of clay and glue on paper and canvas as his focal medium. For him, the use of paper is extremely important—its' properties possess a vulnerability, or permeability of sorts, that literally allows the surface to vibrate with feeling. Given the earthen qualities of these materials, it is no surprise that the artist often drew with mud as a child and found the Romanian landscape as an early inspiration, further pointing to his works' direct connection to his homeland. The intensity of pigment attained through oil or watercolor coupled with the tactility of clay, coalesce in a way that could be seen as bringing sculpture to canvas or paper.

In his abstract drawings, erotic hybrid forms that mesh human, animal and plant-like characteristics work in stark contrast to the simplicity of the white page.

The salon-style hang of works will allow for a 'choose your own adventure' book-like experience of  sorts, suspending narrative and allowing for multiple readings between the vast array of characters on display.

Born in 1975 in Ieud, Romania, Gorzo's methods of working have ranged from street prankster to performance artist to studio painter and sculptor—effectively evading any strict categorization. In 2006 he was the subject of a major, one-person exhibition at the Romanian National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Bucharest (Oct.-Dec. 2006). The exhibition then traveled to the Brukenthal Art Museum, Sibiu, Romania (Dec. 2006–Jan. 2007). He received a degree from the University of Fine Arts in Bucharest. Since 1999 he has shown extensively in Romania where his work has garnered extensive press coverage and a growing audience. His exhibitions have frequently generated controversy for their political and sexual subject matter and the artist's unusually bold treatment of issues that are still considered quite controversial in Romania. In addition to numerous solo exhibitions in Romania, Germany, Austria and Luxembourg, his work has been included in group shows in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Romania. The artist lives and works in Bucharest and New York.

An illustrated catalog including an essay by Amy Owen, an independent curator based in New York and Director of Exhibitions at Artists Space, will be published in conjunction with the exhibition.


SLAG Gallery specializes in contemporary Eastern European art and is operated by owner Irina Protopopescu and director Ozkan Canguven.

Core will remain on view through June 27th.

SLAG Gallery is located at 531 West 25th Street, Ground 10. (between 10th and 11th Avenues). Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm.

For general inquiries contact Ozkan Canguven at the gallery at 212 967 9818.