A largely figurative painter with a penchant for literary citation, Andrew Salgado turns his attention to the still life in a new body of work. Wanting to depart from his narrative-driven process in favor of subject matter allowing for greater intuition and spontaneity, the artist began to render vibrant bouquets in his signature gestural marks. Color ripples across each canvas, presenting the stylized florals in various states of blossom and decay.
Salgado is an avid, eclectic reader, and while his still lifes operate at a remove from his typically reference-rich compositions, they still contain snippets of texts and art history. Awash in blues of all shades, “The Prince,” for example, emerges from a Thomas Bernhard novel that follows an aristocratic protagonist’s descent into paranoia and obsession. In Salgado’s painting, the singular, focused color palette and flowers splayed in every direction mirror the frenetic energy of a message left on the table.
There’s also “Dear Theo,” which centers on a bright cluster of sunflowers synonymous with Vincent van Gogh. Like the title, a scribbled note at the bottom right is addressed to Theo, the Dutch painter’s brother and longtime financial supporter. “To be sufficiently heated up to melt those golds and those flower tones, not just anybody can do that,” Vincent famously wrote Theo. “It takes an individual’s whole and entire energy and attention.”
Being attuned to one’s energy and attention is also critical in this body of work. Rather than follow a rigid, predetermined path, the artist opted for more freedom and the ability to latch onto a thought or association and allow it, and the paint, to lead.
Glory! is on view from July 16 to August 15 at BEERS London. Keep up with Salgado on Instagram.
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