Uncategorized – fortunatopaul31

My solo exhibition of paintings, drawings and wall reliefs opening this summer in Daejeon, Korea. The gallery is housed in a former gymnasium with a floor space of 319 square meters, or about 3400 square feet. There is not enough wall space to fit all the work, so this time I am bringing my own walls too.

Be there, or be NON-CIRCULAR.

I am pleased to have been featured in The Art World Post

https://www.theartworldpost.com/paul-fortunato-bridging-cultures-and-mediums-in-art/

CIRCULAR TIME: CHAPTER 1

Here are selected works from my recent solo show. Most of them are from the last 3 years, some going back to 2019.

With my new set I have returned to the love of drawing, whether it be in the traditional sense, or with acrylic painting or 3D objects on a surface. It’s all the same to me. It is playing with weights, counterweights, lines and pulleys on a flat surface. There were some fully 3D in the round pieces, but even those were about drawing in 3D space.

I often return to the theme of death. I reflect on my life, where I’ve been, and where and how it will end. A life is everything I’ve ever tasted, every friend I ever knew, every girlfriend I was ever with, every piece of music I ever heard. It is every time I felt ecstasy, pain, sadness and joy.

A life is filled with things we wish to forget, but that keep coming back, and things we can’t recall at all. A life is filled with all the stupid songs, jingles, advertisements, movies and TV shows that continuously circulate in our brains like ocean plastic, bobbing in and out of consciousness for no apparent reason.

I had a lot of time to think in 2023 as I recovered from double knee replacement surgery and a later, life threatening medical emergency.

Here’s what I thought.

ME? WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID OF DEATH? I NEVER ACTUALLY LIVED. 2023 foam insulation block, washboard and marker on framed panel

OFFICE SOLUTIONS OF THE SERENGETI- WE DELIVER (FOR PEANUTS) 2023 line consolidator, acrylic and marker on damaged, framed poster on panel

FORCH, THE MUSICAL. NOW ON BROADWAY 2024 foam insulation blocks and acrylic on found banner.

MUD, PAPER TAPE WASP 2024 taping blades, wood cutouts and acrylic on panel

REVENGE OF THE SMURFS 2024 car panel with acrylic, masking tape and marker on panel

WHO WOULD LIKE MORE SPAGHETTI? 2024 guitar neck, wooden pegs, pc cables and marker on framed furniture crate panel

HOMAGE TO ROBERT IRWIN 2023 bleach damaged towel, acrylic and marker on canvas

TAYLOR SWIFT 2023 acrylic on canvas

CLOUDY DAY AT THE BEACH 2024 bleach damaged T shirt and marker on framed panel

FIERCELY DICK-HEADED 2023 acrylic on canvas with mirror on framed panel. A mirror mounted behind the hole in the canvas allows the viewer to see him/herself in the head of the ‘dick’.

METALLICA: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS 2024 birch plywood cutout with marker and acrylic on framed panel

NEBUCHADNEZZAR AND THE VOLVIC UNDERGROUND 2024 acrylic on foamboard panel, with hemp mat attached to painting stretcher mounted on framed blockboard panel

JERRY VALE: SUNRISE/SUNSET traffic lane reflector lens with acrylic and marker on panel

DAVID BOWIE: LET’S DANCE 2024 hardwood cutouts with marker on framed panel

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION: PAISLEY PARK fabric with pencil, marker and passively deposited cat hair on muslin on framed panel

MEAT THE BEETLES 2024 acrylic on framed panel with bicycle wheel. A piece that was originally painted in 2018, never exhibited until this past show, that I finally found a use for.

CARIBOU 2023 oil on panel on framed panel

THE LEPIDOPTERIST’S WIFE 2024 marker on 1 inch thick found birch plywood (made in Russia), with bolt, mounted on framed panel painted with sumi ink. A lepidopterist, or butterfly specialist, reminds me of my childhood fascination with butterflies and all insects. Here I am the ‘lepidopterist’, and my wife, i.e., my life, is my art.

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD MY MARKET 2023 ventilation grill with marker and acrylic on panel. Here I am as a street vendor completely out of touch with an audience that is oblivious to what I am selling.

BLACK SABBATH: PARANOID 2024 acrylic and marker on linen, with wagon wheel, on framed blockboard panel. Originally painted in 2019, revisited in 2024.

I CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU 2024 acrylic and marker on framed panel

RING OF FIRE 2023 colored pencil and oil pastel on watercolor paper mounted on framed panel

GIRL 1 2024 passive cat hair accumulation with pencil and marker on muslin on framed panel. Here my cats helped. This is 3 years of their rubbing up against a piece of muslin stapled to a door jamb.

UNTITLED 2023 acrylic on canvas with golf ball and chicken wire

LIGHTNING STRIKE 2024 bricks, pillow, marker and acrylic on framed panel

ENERGY 2023 plywood cutout and marker on destroyed poster mounted on framed panel

HEART ATTACK 2023 acrylic on canvas with parts cabinets and HEPA filters. This was the showcase piece in the show.

BURNING OFFICE BUILDING 1 2023 acrylic on shirt mounted on framed panel

THE DOCTOR WILL SAW YOU NOW 2024 acrylic and marker on solid poplar cutout mounted on framed panel

GAZING INTO THE ASSHOLE OF TIME 2023 oil pastel, acrylic and marker with solid hardwood cutout, eggshells and watch on destroyed poster on framed panel

ALL MY CONTACTS 2023 business cards, card organizer and marker on destroyed poster on framed panel

I AM NOT A COOK 2024 acrylic, marker and colored pencil on grey toned foam core over framed panel

BURNING OFFICE BUILDING 2 acrylic on shirt on framed panel

SMASHING PUMPKINS GREATEST HITS 2024 acrylic on linen with chicken wire

CHER: IF I CAN TURN BACK TIME 2023 acrylic and marker on line with reflective traffic lane lens

MOONLIGHT WALK 2023 marker on hollow core door section

ANY SUBMISSIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE A SASE WILL BE THROWN IN THE GARBAGE 2024 marker on wood panel, with marker on red felt on painting stretcher

HOW CAN I HELP YOU? latex rubber mattress section and marker on traditional Korean table top

COFFEE, TEA OR ME? 2023 acrylic, marker, drywall screw and tea bags on destroyed poster on framed panel

MENDING WALL 2023 acrylic and marker on destroyed poster on framed panel

BIGFOOT CROSSING 2023 hardwood cutout with marker on framed panel

GREEDY FUX 2024 acrylic and marker on moldy framed panel with mirror attached to reverse side. The viewer sees him/her self in the eye holes.

THE EGG LADY 2024 egg shells and egg carton on framed panel

WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS TO THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS 2024 acrylic, marker and squeegee bracket on linen over framed panel

STOP, IN THE NAME OF ART, BEFORE I BREAK YOUR HEART (THINK IT OVER) 2024 acrylic and marker on linen

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE GREATEST HITS 2024 acrylic on linen. Originally painted in 2021 and revised in 2024

DAVID BOWIE: DIAMOND DIMETRODON DOGS 2024 marker and acrylic on linen

THE FUGITIVE 2024 acrylic and marker on linen

GIRL 2 marker and passive cat hair accumulation on muslin, recto and verso. This is the third work in the show where the cats helped. This piece of muslin was hung over the entrance to my bedroom for 3 years, as the cats brushed up against it entering and leaving.

KENNEL RATION 2024 acrylic, marker and brick on foam core on framed panel

SHOPPING LIST 2023 marker on granite slab mounted on framed panel

WHITE ROOM WITH BLACK CURTAINS 2024 marker, acrylic and spent air purifier pre filter on framed panel

THEY’RE VERY GOOD EATING 2023 acrylic on linen with sneakers and chicken wire over panel

STARRY NIGHT 2024 pine pollen and marker on plastic

LEND ME YOUR EAR PIZZA GROWERS 2023 acrylic and marker with dark velvet on panel

MADONNA 2024 acrylic pc and canvas strips on painting stretcher

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY 2024 painting stretchers with painting remnants, marker, colored pencil, plywood cutout with mold and algae on framed black gessoed panel

MEADOW LOCK 2024 acrylic, marker and oil pastel on foam core with lockset on framed panel

GINKGO BILOBA 2023 sumi ink with lab artifact and masking tape on framed panel

WARRIOR 2023 marker on moldy painted plywood cutouts. Based on the AeroMexico logo.

SQUAT HOLE (EVENT HORIZON) 2023 acrylic and marker on panel with shoes, hardwood cutouts and pvc tube elbow

ICE CREAM 2023 acrylic on linen with chicken wire and tennis balls over panel

EXCAVATION 2023 acrylic, marker and office chair armrests on framed panel

THE LAUGHING COW 2024 acrylic on panel with Laughing Cow cheese packages. This was originally painted in 2018 on a rectangle. I cut it into a circle and randomly distributed the offcuts to complete the missing parts to make the circle complete.

PSYCHO CAT DAD 2023 acrylic and marker on framed panel

DADDY MOMMY 2019 acrylic on linen

AC/DC: HIGHWAY TO HELL 2024 acrylic on hemp mat mounted onto painting stretcher with text written in marker

CRAZY EDDIE IS INSANE 2024 acrylic and marker on museum board on framed panel

MAN (recto) and WOMAN (verso) 2024 acrylic on hemp mat hung on stainless steel armature

VIEW FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE 2024 acrylic on hemp mat stretched onto a stretcher. Painted outside on location, looking out over rice fields and the town of Gyeryong.

PAUL TORTUNATO: BROKEN ON THE WHEEL (AGAIN) 2024 acrylic and marker on crate panel with painted canvas cutout and wagon wheel

NO HARM WILL COME TO YOU 2023 marker on foam core mounted on panel with leaves. The panel had been lying face down in the yard for over a year, after which time leaves had become ‘fossilized’ into the foam board.

REPO JINDO 2024 acrylic and wooden joinery section on crate panel. Originally painted in 2022. Characteristic curly Jindo tail added in 2024. This piece is a precursor to all the works that came later using 3D objects.

IRON MAIDEN: SENJUTSU 2024 acrylic on crate panel with attached mold and algae covered plywood cutout

THE CREATION OF ADAM 2024 acrylic and marker on linen

EYE 2023 acrylic on panel with bass drum assembly ring and chain link fence

I WAS A TEENAGE SMARTPHONE 2023 acrylic, marker and cell phones on framed panel

I KEEP THINKING I SMELL CAT PISS 2024 marker on toned foam core on framed panel

SILENCE OF THE LAMBORGHINIS 2024 colored pencil on black foam core on framed panel

ELTON JOHN: SONGS FROM THE WEST COAST 2024 acrylic and marker on framed panel with paper wasp nest sections

THE HAIRDRESSER 2024 acrylic and marker on framed panel with pc part

JESUS WALKS INTO A BAR… 2023 acrylic, marker and thorns on stretched canvas mounted on framed panel

GIANT CAT 2024 marker and ball point pen on grey toned foam core on framed panel

I AIN’T HEAVY, I’M HIS BROTHER 2023 acrylic, marker and dried chili pepper on framed panel

HE SUFFERS FROM PULMONARY PSYCHOSIS 2024 colored pencil and full vacuum cleaner bag on black gessoed framed panel

KHRIST 2023 marker and thorns on framed panel

ENRICO CARUSO: OH SOLO MIO 2023 acrylic, marker, colored pencil and reflective traffic lane lenses on framed panel

DADDY’S HOME 2023 acrylic and marker on framed panel

DEEP PURPLE: FIREBALL 2024 acrylic, marker and plywood cutout on framed panel

UPSET 2023 marker and acrylic on destroyed poster on framed panel

APPETITE FOR SEDUCTION 2024 marker and guitar sections on office cubicle panel

WOW NICE SERVE 2024 acrylic, marker, tennis balls and racket on framed panel. The tennis racket was left out in the rain for a year and developed a ‘grin’ all on its own.

TROPHY 2021 acrylic on linen. The theme of looking through holes to another space has recurred throughout my artistic career.

A walkthrough of my recent solo exhibition.

Hello World

After a long absence from social media as I recovered from knee surgery and a near death medical incident, I am back and I am bad. I recently had a blockbuster solo exhibition here in Daejeon, South Korea at a huge gymnasium space converted into a gallery. I rented the gallery for 7 days, which included the install and take down days, so the show was effectively open to the public for only 5 days, i.e., 5 minutes. I took that as a challenge, to make a show that was museum quality and timeless, in about a minute. It was a show made for Instagram.

When the show did open, I was completely taken by surprise by the public response, in this, a very conservative city. I got rave responses by local artists, expat artist friends, general public, and even the gallery staff, who are usually indifferent to what’s being shown at the moment.

This is my fourth time exhibiting my work in this space, but the first as a solo exhibition. Through the cumulative experiences of my past shows, and from having seen other shows there, I acquired an intimate understanding of the space and what works and what does not.

I will discuss the show title and the content in posts to follow. Here are the announcement cards.

SOLAR LAP 60

I started this group of paintings on my 60th birthday, around the time of the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 5 months ago. It is my 60th lap around our Sun. One piece, REPO JINDO, was started two years ago and is included in this set.

The new work is a reflection on life and mortality, and, among other things, my identifying with my cats and with animals in general. Solar Lap 60 is ongoing, and there will be more.

This work had been completed just before I am about to relocate to a better studio/house elsewhere in South Korea.

OPEN SEASON

January 7, 2022

Happy 2022 Everyone.

I now present my new set of 12 paintings titled OPEN SEASON. They were completed over the last 6 months, starting in August 2021.

As in most of my paintings there are layers of interwoven meaning and anecdote. The recurring themes of nature conservation, ethical treatment of animals and commentary on our digital society persist. ‘Open Season’ is a direct reference to trophy hunting. The eco vigilante in me will never go away. There is also the self referential aspect, just like in the last set, ‘Who Am I?’. OPEN SEASON became expansive in scope, encompassing the idea of time, as in the seasons, and the seasons of one’s lifespan. And for additional seasoning, I threw in some sociopolitical heat.

It is inevitable that whatever an artist paints, his or her personal circumstances and state of mind at that moment will find its way into the mix and dominate it.

One night in September 2021 I experienced extreme blood loss from a ruptured hemorrhoid and severe dehydration from diarrhea. I became so weak I collapsed to the floor and injured my face, requiring stitches on my upper lip. I went to the emergency room of the local hospital and was admitted there for 8 days. Before the real cause of the bleeding was detected and corrected with surgery, I required 6 blood transfusions.

Needless to say, the wonderful hospital staff, doctors and anonymous blood donors saved my life. I am grateful to still be alive.

The physical experience of intense rectal anguish and the unforgettable prospect of having almost died naturally found its way into the new work, which had already been in progress for months. I developed a new relationship and perspective on blood, my blood, as I lay around for hours watching the liquid organ slowly enter my depleted bloodstream, drop by drop, from a suspended blood unit.

The hospital downtime was like a mandatory vacation for me. It allowed me time to think about my life, mortality and where will I go from here once I am finished with the professorship. It also made me confront the question of what will happen to my estate, i.e., my life’s output of work, once I am gone. In that sense, OPEN SEASON, with 12 paintings, is my midlife calendar. You pick the painting and you match the month, its open to your interpretation.

A painting in progress is a condensed relationship. From the work’s inception on a blank piece of primed linen, with a few gestural strokes, the conversation begins. The failure rate is high at this stage, and if an image doesn’t work it may take many rewrites before I get any traction. There is also the test of time, which can take weeks to months. Usually at this point I do the mirror test, that is, look at the image backwards in a mirror. If it works backwards, it will also work forwards. When the relationship survives all the hurdles, I will run with it to the logical endpoint. As is my method, I work on the entire set of paintings simultaneously, so there are many conversations going on at the same time. When a piece is done, a sense of emptiness sets in. The relationship is over. The partner is no longer alive.

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