Various & Gould

An interface connects two independent systems and allows them to communicate. This is exactly what InterFace, the latest screen print by Various & Gould, is about, and it also gives the exhibition its title. The work symbolises the close and profound connection between two individuals that goes beyond what is visible on the surface: two people, independent and autonomous, and yet connected in a special way through their ideas, sensors, thoughts and emotions.Crossing BoundariesThe Berlin-based artist duo has been working together since 2005. In 2010, both graduated from the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin (KHB) under Prof. Alex Jordan, a member of the French graphic design collective Grapus. Various & Gould cross boundaries in many fields and stand for a simple yet powerful formula: 1 + 1 = 3. Shared interests such as a love of paper, a fascination with the accidental beauty of everyday life and, above all, working in public space form the basis of their collaboration.Screen Printing and CollageScreen printing and collage are their passion. In a mostly playful way, they tackle socially relevant issues such as work, migration, gender, death, globalisation, religion and the financial crisis. Their works are influenced by (political) poster design, Dada and Pop Art and are characterised by strong colours and an ambiguous interweaving of symbols, associations and styles.Opening and Book LaunchInterFace also graces the cover of their book Permanently Improvised, published last October. At the opening, Various & Gould will present the book, talk about past projects and share their thoughts on various murals. After the talk, the two artists will be available for questions and an open discussion."InterFace" Various & GouldOpening and Book Launch Friday, 6 March 2020 Doors: 7 pm, presentation: 8 pmExhibition 6 – 21 March 2020Pretty Portal Brunnenstraße 12 40223 Düsseldorf

Few subjects are as old, and at the same time as inexhaustible, as the human face. For centuries, artists have tried to capture character, emotion and stories in it, and yet every generation finds a new approach.Four Positions, One ThemeIn FACE OFF, four positions devoted to the portrait go head to head: Julian Kimmings, Rowan Newton, Shai Dahan and Various & Gould. All four are showing at Pretty Portal for the first time. Their approaches could hardly be more different, ranging from gestural oil painting and raw mixed media with spray paint and watercolour to stencil, collage and screen printing.Julian KimmingsBritish artist Julian Kimmings paints mostly portraits, using a mix of oil, spray paint, ink and acrylic. Fascinated by ancient cultures, folklore and mythology, he draws on their stories to give his works a narrative, which he sets against an increasingly materialistic modern world. In his portraits, he combines gestural painting and fast, intuitive brushwork with detailed, almost realistic elements. In these often highly emotional moments, a clear expression contrasts with raw, energetic fields of colour that leave room for the viewer's imagination. Julian Kimmings completed his studies in London. With his unique visual language, he has attracted the attention of collectors around the world and earned high regard among connoisseurs of contemporary and urban art.Rowan NewtonRowan Newton lives in London and paints people. His paintings reflect the dichotomies of urban life. Using spray paint, acrylic and watercolour, he creates works full of character, unvarnished and provocative. Since completing his art studies in 2004, he has shown his work in exhibitions in London, Amsterdam and New York.Shai DahanShai Dahan (b. 1979) is an American painter and urban artist. Born in Haifa, he grew up in Los Angeles, where he picked up his first spray can at the age of 14. In 2007, he moved to New York, where he painted as part of street and urban art projects such as NYSAT, the Underbelly Project and MOM&POPism. Soon afterwards, he began showing his work in galleries in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Philadelphia. At the end of 2010, he moved to Sweden. In July 2012, his solo exhibition at the Borås Art Museum earned him wide recognition, and shortly afterwards he gave the opening keynote at TEDx Göteborg. In his work for public space, on canvas and in installations, he uses a variety of techniques, including stencil, collage and painting in acrylic, oil and spray paint.Various & GouldThe Berlin-based artist duo Various & Gould have been working closely together since 2005. Both studied at the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin (KHB), graduating in 2010. Various & Gould stand for a simple yet powerful formula: 1 + 1 = 3. They reinvent themselves with every project and often cross boundaries between different fields. Shared interests such as a love of paper, a fascination with the accidental beauty of everyday life and, above all, working in public space form the basis of their collaboration. Screen printing and collage are their speciality. In a mostly playful way, they tackle relevant issues such as work, migration, (sexual) identity, death, religion and the financial crisis. Their works are influenced by (political) poster design, Dada and Pop Art and are often characterised by strong colours and an ambiguous interweaving of symbols, associations and clichés.FACE OFF feat. Julian Kimmings, Rowan Newton, Shai Dahan and Various & GouldOpening Friday, 11 September 2015, 7 – 10 pmExhibition 11 September – 10 October 2015Pretty Portal Brunnenstraße 12 40223 Düsseldorf