Work & Exhibitions > The Snakes That Remain. ACME., 2015

ACME. is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new works by Los Angeles based artist Matt Lifson. On view will be two bodies of work that focus on concepts of storytelling through imagery, using methodologies of repetition and projection. Lifson is fascinated by the way in which stories are told in contemporary culture, especially through the viewpoint of film and photography that infiltrate a more ubiquitous concept of personal narrative. Lifson has a longtime interest in a picture’s history and trajectory, especially through the frame of painting.

The first body of work starts with a series of small paintings of a snowy landscape painted in succession on the same canvas, which are then individually photographed in the different stages of paint, then the images are enlarged and printed on canvas, which are then are overlaid with a translucent silk fabric and painted again. The resulting works have a panning effect, like still frames of a film. The overlaid paintings on the silk act as 'emotional' responses to the subtle nuances of the snowy landscape paintings beneath them. The effect is exaggerated, brushy gestures and washes that hover above a now almost indiscernible image underneath.

The second body of work consists of serial paintings of a still life with projected text in the form of subtitles and book pages that are constantly changing. Lifson is exploring the notion of how images find themselves being owned and produced, stretching the elasticity of meaning, and between these two techniques, an overarching concept of projection occurs, be it literally or figuratively.

Page
Oil and light projection on linen
80"x56"
2015
Closed Caption 1
Oil and light projection on linen
78"x60"
2015
Closed Caption 2
Oil and light projection on linen
78"x60"
2015
Vase and Chandelier Overture
Inkjet print on canvas in wood frame, oil on white voile over frame
79"x61"
2015
Inside outside ghosts
Inkjet print on canvas in wood frame, oil on black voile over frame
79"x61"
2015
The Snakes That Remain
Inkjet print on canvas in wood frame, oil on white voile over frame
79"x61"
2015
Four Removed Generations
Inkjet print on canvas in wood frame, oil on white voile over frame
79"x61"
2015
Crossover Children
Inkjet print on canvas in wood frame, oil on white voile over frame
2015
Unfurling a tail
Inkjet print on canvas in wood frame, oil on white voile over frame
2015