John Baldessari's "The Space Between" series, his final work before his passing in early 2020, encapsulates his enduring inquiry into the nature of perception, representation, and the interplay between text and image. This series, showcased at Sprüth Magers in Los Angeles, comprises thirty inkjet prints on canvas that juxtapose selectively painted photographs with fields of paint, obliterating certain elements of the original scenes to highlight specific people, objects, and areas. These works include textual elements that direct the viewer's attention, encouraging a deeper engagement with the visual and conceptual layers of each piece.
https://ocula.com/art-galleries/spruth-magers/exhibitions/the-space-between/
https://artnowla.com/2021/07/11/john-baldessari-the-space-between/
https://spruethmagers.com/exhibitions/john-baldessari-the-space-between-los-angeles/
The series is a testament to Baldessari's skill in creating meaning from seemingly random juxtapositions and his mastery over the relationship between painting and photography, fiction and reality. Through strategic omissions and additions, Baldessari's work in "The Space Between" invites viewers to ponder presence and absence, foreground and background, and the myriad ways we interpret the visual world. His innovative use of text alongside image, often leaving spaces between elements both visually and conceptually open for interpretation, challenges viewers to consider the myriad ways meaning is constructed and decoded.
https://ocula.com/art-galleries/spruth-magers/exhibitions/the-space-between/
https://artnowla.com/2021/07/11/john-baldessari-the-space-between/
Notably, Baldessari's work continues to explore themes that have pervaded his career, such as the fragmentation and reassembly of imagery to question photographic truths and the artificial boundaries between art disciplines. "The Space Between" series beautifully encapsulates Baldessari's lifelong exploration of the spaces between things, people, and ideas, emphasizing his unique position in the art world that straddles painting, photography, and conceptual art. Through this series, Baldessari leaves a poignant reflection on art, film, history, and life, inviting viewers to explore the "how" of our engagement with the world around us.
https://ocula.com/art-galleries/spruth-magers/exhibitions/the-space-between/
https://artnowla.com/2021/07/11/john-baldessari-the-space-between/