THE MODERN CONDITION

Upperplayground News

“THE MODERN CONDITION”: LATEST WORKS OF DAVE KINSEY

by Ariadna Zierold

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

Dave Kinsey’s latest work “The Modern Condition” is a set of 9 works on canvas composed of acrylic and collage (old book pages, discarded mail and paper), in medium and large scale.

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

His work captures the universal essence of the human condition mainly through an energetic portrayal of urban figures. Working spontaneously, and utilizing a range of mediums, he constructs multi-layered, textured environments easily likened to the complexities of contemporary life. His portraits depict beings who are both triumphant in their defiant stance to their surroundings, and tragic, as they transmit a visual display of raw emotion and jangled nerves.

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

These latest works are a continuation of where Kinsey left off with his last show “Cusion of Memory” at the Library Street Collective in Detroit. He is currently taking cues from the natural world when it comes to the overall aesthetic of these sculpturesque paintings, set within dreamlike landscapes using detailed yet suggestive imagery, tones and textures.

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

 

These works are imbued with semi-abstracted figures and objects that become metaphors or symbols that ambiguously reference contemporary issues such as overpopulation, money, power, climate change, consumerism and the everyday dynamics of contemporary life.

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

“The most difficult thing about creating a painting is going through the process of finding a connection in what I see and feel in the world around me, while also seeking a visual harmony between the beauty and chaos of the human experience.” Dave Kinsey

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

This body of work encapsulates that balance and provides a diverse and energetic aesthetic of that environment.

dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground dave kinsey, the modern condition, works, painting, abstract, the citrus report, upper playground

Watch this studio visit.