California-based Australian Mark Whalen, a versatile and interdisciplinary artist who explores his practice through sculpture, with scales ranging from small tabletop pieces to large immersive sculptures, will present the work "Moments" from January 11 through March 11 at the entrance of Galería Canalejas at Calle Alcalá 10/12.
The impressive and colorful work highlights in a dreamlike way the relationship between the absurd and the mundane, capturing the human concerns of the world in which we live. Whalen's maquettes start from a digital realization, intentionally without gender or physical body, then are fabricated in polyurethane and chrome on aluminum and finally spray painted. The resulting figurations are part of an overarching narrative: each body part belongs to a single fictional protagonist, which accumulates to represent the broad spectrum of human emotions.
The piece acts as a beacon for passersby on Calle Alcalá, giving them the opportunity to discover the important role of contemporary art while enjoying the exhilarating atmosphere of the heart of the city.
About Mark Whalen
An Australian-born artist, he explores his practice through sculpture in different sizes and shapes, from small tabletop pieces to other large and even immersive works. In fluorine tones, the distinctive and exaggerated body language and facial expressions that he depicts in his work, keep a critical tone with the generalized social anxiety, although always with a comic note that enhances them.
The artist's work has been exhibited in numerous museums and art galleries around the world including: Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga; National Gallery of Australia; Museum of Contemporary Art Art Art Macro in Italy; Arsham Fieg Gallery, USA and Pop68/Ruttowski 68 in Germany among others.
