Ronson Culibrina – After Sundown

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Primo Marella Gallery Lugano is pleased to present After Sundown, the first impressive Ronson Culibrina’s solo-exhibition, exclusively conceived for the gallery spaces.
Curated by Ruel Caasi in cooperation with The Working Animals Art Projects (TWA) and CLOUDGREY.
This collection of works is Ronson Culibrina’s take on contemporary society, which he portrays as a chaotic and frenzied juxtaposition of images from art, mythology, popular culture, history, current events, religious iconography, and consumerism. Drawing forms and references from these diverse sources, the artist imagines a riotous encounter between seemingly disparate worlds to suggest how colonial history, capitalism, and globalization have shaped and continue to direct the circulation and consumption of commodities as well as the diffusion of cultures. In these crowded canvases, East meets West; classical and contemporary art collide; and the historical and fictional gain presence in the realm of everyday life. One of the major tropes in Culibrina’s art is the dynamics of material and cultural traffic rooted in the age of colonialism and later perpetuated by the rise of capitalist economy and global society. Along with the structures and power relations that emerged in this historical continuity. The artist interprets this theme mostly by appropriating works of old masters and incorporating humorous and playful assortment of figures and other visual elements in the composition, an intervention that turns iconic pieces of art into parodies. In this latest series, the motley configurations picture contemporary, global society as a vibrant marketplace of traditions, creative expressions, and commodities – but not without certain sources dominating and having the upper hand in the game. Some figures, icons, and their narratives may instantly be recognizable or are more familiar, while others can be more obscure and overpowered amid the busy tableau. The artist intensifies the spectacle by rendering the wild visual gathering in chiaroscuro lighting – creating a dramatic and disorienting clash.
Along with the structures and power relations that emerged in this historical continuity. The artist interprets this theme mostly by appropriating works of old masters and incorporating humorous and playful assortment of figures and other visual elements in the composition, an intervention that turns iconic pieces of art into parodies. In this latest series, the motley configurations picture contemporary, global society as a vibrant marketplace of traditions, creative expressions, and commodities – but not without certain sources dominating and having the upper hand in the game. Some figures, icons, and their narratives may instantly be recognizable or are more familiar, while others can be more obscure and overpowered amid the busy tableau. The artist intensifies the spectacle by rendering the wild visual gathering in chiaroscuro lighting – creating a dramatic and disorienting clash.

- from the critical text curated by Ruel Caasi