The "Double Play" series by John Baldessari, spanning from 2012 to 2014, seems to be a continuation of his lifelong exploration into the amalgamation of text and image to challenge viewers' perceptions and create new narratives. While specific details about the "Double Play" series itself weren't directly available, insights into Baldessari's broader body of work can help us understand the thematic and stylistic continuities that might inform this series.
Baldessari's work often engages with the concept of pointing—directing the viewer's attention to certain elements within a piece to question artistic authorship and the nature of observation. This approach is seen in works where he employs amateur artists to execute paintings based on his concepts, thereby challenging traditional notions of creativity and craftsmanship (ReadingOffice).
His use of dots to cover faces in portraits, starting from the mid-1980s, is another hallmark technique, symbolizing his critique of the art world's focus on superficiality. These dots, reminiscent of price stickers, level the playing field by obscuring the subject's identity, forcing viewers to engage with the artwork beyond the immediate recognition of the figures portrayed (ReadingOffice).
Baldessari's engagement with printmaking and his innovative approach to combining multiple photographs, using techniques like screen printing and lithography, has been pivotal in his exploration of layering and narrative construction. His prints often juxtapose unrelated imagery to suggest new, sometimes ominous meanings, further challenging viewers' perceptions (ReadingOffice).
Given these recurring themes and techniques in Baldessari's work, the "Double Play" series likely continues his exploration of juxtaposition, the interaction between text and image, and the questioning of artistic authorship. By employing his characteristic methods of combining and altering images, Baldessari invites viewers into a participatory role, encouraging them to draw their own connections and create personal interpretations of his work.