Reading the Streets: Kyle Hughes-Odgers

Written by KELSEY SAVAGE HAYS, Auction Central News International

Friday, 24 February 2012 15:43

AKyle painting the title of his exhibit on the wall of the gallery. Artwork by Kyle Hughes-Odgers. Photograph courtesy Okazi Gallery.

BERLIN – Until Feb 28, the Okazi Gallery is displaying Kyle Hughes-Odgers’ exhibit “If We Can’t Control the Boat, Let’s Control the Ocean.” Featuring acrylic on wood or canvas, the pieces, “Transfer his style of large-scale street work into very detailed paintings,” says Henryk Spiess, of Okazi Gallery and Studios, in an email. “The first moment you look, the characters and multilayer patterns give a naïve impression, but turn into a very complex and serious world with enormous metaphoric depth immediately.”

The Australian artist dropped by the gallery for an exhibit about a year ago and shared some of his work—the Okazi staff knew they had to host Kyle’s first solo exhibit in Berlin.

A street artist since 2005, Kyle’s abstract figures filled with their textural patterns and bold colors have adorned walls across the globe. Often appearing to question the purpose of technology, his gender-neutral stick people serve to express ideas of communication, chaos and memory. His characters’ apparent curiosity in using complicated machines to survive is all the more effective when juxtaposed against natural materials like the wood Kyle often uses, which also lends a warmth of color and texture to the art.

Okazi Gallery: Turrschmidtstrasse 18, Berlin; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 2-6 p.m.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

A selection of Kyle’s work, many of which are painted on wood. Artwork by Kyle Hughes-Odgers. Photograph courtesy Okazi Gallery.

Kyle painting the title of his exhibit on the wall of the gallery. Artwork by Kyle Hughes-Odgers. Photograph courtesy Okazi Gallery.

Kyle’s figures topple crazily through a series of pieces. Artwork by Kyle Hughes-Odgers. Photograph courtesy Okazi Gallery.

Last Updated on Monday, 27 February 2012 08:48