Shaggy dog video story and Huelsbeck’s shades of Becerra

March 30, 2004 · 0 Comments

Meanwhile, in the gallery, the walls were full of work. This time by Simon Huelsbeck, small oils collectively called “Philadelphia Narratives.” The work was monotone — everything awash in sepia — which gave it a kind of old-fashioned photo-documentary feel. (images of car, tank, kiss and Philadelphia City Hall are by Huelsbeck)

The paintings, full of surreal juxtapositions, coded story-telling, apocalyptic skies and weird, camera-influenced, fish-eye point of view, were intriguing. Apart from the color, with their narrative qualities and the seriality of imagery — a man and woman kiss in close up, mid-distance and from afar — they reminded me a bit of works by another Lapelle painter — Roland Becerra.

I’m quite partial to Becerra so I slowed down enough to take a closer look and a few pictures.

Then Rodger tells me Huelsbeck went to high school with Becerra in Miami. Is it me or is that strange? The two went to art school in different places — Becerra, Yale and Huelsbeck, Minnesota. But here they are in a Philadelphia gallery. I suppose, given Friendster, that is not really shocking.

But that the work shows affinities is a surprise. Now Becerra, it must be noted, is doing suburban gothic of a sort (people in graveyards at night) and Huelsbeck seems to be doing Philadelphia by way of Los Angeles (B movies come to mind). So the work is not lock-step, but it is kindred in spirit somehow — those skies, those funny fish-eye angles, the storytelling. (bottom image is a Becerra)