“The purity of Parker is what makes him such a precious commodity. This exhibition contains an opportune moment to encounter the extensive character make-up of this uniquely creative eccentric.”
– Books Bischof, Primary founder and curator
Primary Projects (Primary), an ambitious platform for contemporary artists and curators, presents Contender, new works from Kenton Parker during Art Basel Miami. Curated by Cristina Gonzalez, Typoe and Books Bischof, Contender will inaugurate Primary’s new Downtown Miami 5,000-sq. ft. space.
In a solo show dedicated to self-portraiture through sculpture, painting, installation and photography, Kenton Parker challenges the viewer with a swell of raw emotion. On location at Milk Studios (Los Angeles), Parker calls on long-time friend and photographer, Patrick Hoelck, to capture the madness that makes-up the artist’s multiple personalities. Parker tacked on the roles of producer, director, editor and subject for this exhibition, exposing his various states of being behind and in front of the lens. Contender is the most extensive, self- referential and personal body of work of Parker’s career, revealing a narrative that ultimately speaks to the human condition.
Parker’s self-portraits challenge the boundaries between artist and subject in a process where he meticulously sketches and storyboards each photo shoot of himself. Scenarios, among others, include fighting, purging, nudity and apathy– plots so universal and powerfully executed that in pieces such as From Bad to Worse or We Both Knew This Was Coming, the line between how the artist is feeling and what he is staging can be easily blurred. In Always Sorry, a lush installation that takes on the form and function of a flower boutique, Parker creates a unique opportunity to engage audiences with a poetic, intimate, living object. The life cycle of the flower traces the growth, beauty, decomposition and death as a ritual of existence. On a journey that asks viewers to become acutely aware of their own humanity, Parker invites them to relive their memories in his safe space at Primary.
Opening Reception: Fri, Dec 6 | from 6pm to 10pm RSVP@primaryprojectspace.com
- Artists:
Kenton Parker - Open:
Monday, 02 December 2013 - Close:
Friday, 24 January 2014 - Address:
151 NE 7th St, Miami - Mail:
info@primaryprojectspace.com - Phone:
+1 305 555 5555 - Web:
Primary Projects - Opening hour:
Art Basel Week Hours: Mon, Dec 2 – Sat, Dec 7 | 10am – 6pm, and Sun, Dec 8 | 10am – 5pm; Regular Hours: Tue – Fri | 10am – 6pm, Sat | 12pm – 5pm. - Photo credits:
Kenton Parker, From Bad to Worse, 2013. Courtesy of the artist and Primary Project.
