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Artist Paints Sinister Tourists: Venice Exhibition
5 May
Summary
- Hernan Bas exhibits 30 paintings of tourists in Venice.
- The series, 'The Visitors,' captures an uncanny, sinister edge.
- Bas's work focuses on young, white men, inspired by Holden Caulfield.
Cuban-American artist Hernan Bas is showcasing "The Visitors," an exhibition of 30 paintings in Venice, coinciding with the Venice Biennale. His studio, overlooking the Venetian lagoon, served as a temporary sanctuary while he created these works, drawing inspiration from the city's tourists. Bas acknowledges the irony of his own tourist status, referencing his Miami neighborhood's transformation by Airbnbs.
The series presents young white men in various scenarios, from colorful festivals to pleas for travel funds, infused with an uncanny, almost alien quality. Bas explains his focus on young men stems from personal attraction and a consistent artistic exploration of the Holden Caulfield archetype—youthful uncertainty.
Bas views his art as conceptual, emphasizing the narrative and scenario creation. He dives deep into research, unearthing human folly, and crafts elaborate backstories for his subjects. His previous series, "The Conceptualists," also featured satirical portraits of fictional artists.
The exhibition at Ca' Pesaro will be displayed in a room overlooking the Grand Canal. Bas has requested the curtains be drawn back, urging visitors to embrace the quintessential "tourist moment" and engage with the art, despite its ten-month creation period.
