by Ariadna Zierold

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

“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

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

Watch this studio visit.