The Hamptons

Café Dolly, originally organized in 2013 by the J.F. Wllumsens Museum in Copenhagen, is now on display at the NSU Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This exhibition brings together complimentary figural works by three major painters of two different centuries; the late work of French artist, Francis Picabia (1879-1953), works of the visionary and well known Danish artist, J. (Jens) F. (Ferdinand) Willumsen (1863- 1958), and works dating from the 1980s to the present by the acclaimed New York artist, Julian Schnabel. The curation displays a beautiful juxtaposition exposing the remarkable similarities between each painters’ stylistic approach. The provocative tone in each of these artists’ works is reflected in the title of the exhibition, referencing “Dolly” (1997), the cloned sheep that challenged cultural norms, and ethical and moral issues. These three painters have individually raised intriguing and similar controversies in the light of their conceptual identities, expressing strong commitment to the art of painting while challenging it’s traditions. On Saturday, December 6th, 2014, in the bloom of “Art Basel weekend,” artist Julian Schnabel himself gave an informal tour of the show with commentary on the curitorial impression of Café Dolly, discussing each work, and their collective relationship.

When speaking about his own painting Sheikha Mozah, 2010 (oil on canvas), he discussed some painterly methods, saying: “Painting dark first then light shows the process.” And “Painting is about covering the surface.” When talking about his piece Portrait of Albert Oehlen, 1997 (oil, wax, resin, enamel, on canvas), he said: “Then I put the white line to show what it was about to be…” “Almost materialized.” “…Because isn’t that what we all are? …Almost materialized.” This exhibition will be on view at the NSU Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, until February 1, 2015.

– Katarina Kruckel –