BATHHOUSE . June 1st - July 21st
Film by Heinrich Nieuman - @heinrichnieuman
Welcome to BATHHOUSE: My mini solo presentation opening Saturday June 1st. 10am-2pm at 99 Loop Gallery
On display will be large drawings and small paintings.
𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄
Chris Denovan’s exhibition “Bathhouse” explores the long-standing motif of the bather in Western art, focusing specifically on the male nude in contemporary representations. Historically, bathers have been depicted from ancient Athens to 1920s Paris, symbolizing various themes from purity and leisure to sensuality and allegory.
David Hockney’s modern works, like “Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool” and “Man Taking Shower in Beverly Hills,” play a pivotal role in this tradition. His vibrant paintings highlight the vulnerability and beauty of the male form, challenging traditional views on masculinity and infusing the subject with personal and contemporary significance.
Today, artists like Paul Chan continue to engage with this motif, as seen in his exhibition “Odysseus and the Bathers” in Athens, which merges ancient themes with contemporary issues like identity and gender fluidity. The male nude in modern art challenges historical norms, presenting the male body as a subject of beauty, vulnerability, and strength, while the act of showering symbolizes cleansing and renewal.
This exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the body, intimacy, and the evolving nature of art through the lens of the male bather
‘Bathhouse’ will run until July 21st 2024.