"Everyday" is a solo exhibition by Richard Prince, showcased at Sadie Coles HQ in London from March 29 to May 5, 2023. This exhibition marks Prince's seventh solo display at the gallery, presenting a recent addition to his iconic Joke Paintings series. In "Everyday," Prince delves into the comedic world of Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004), an American stand-up comedian renowned for his sharp one-liners that often portrayed a self-deprecating or banal humor. Prince, known for his extensive collection of counter-cultural material, brings Dangerfield's jokes into the realm of fine art, transcribing them across multiple canvases. Through repetition and artistic reinterpretation, these jokes shift from their initial humorous impact to a deeper exploration of societal clichés, aspirations, and the darker undercurrents of sexism, bigotry, and inequality (FAD Magazine) (Ocula Art).
Created during the pandemic between 2019 and 2021, Prince's works integrate Dangerfield's jokes with bold oil stick lettering set against a backdrop of the comedian's stage notes, transforming these into readymade collages. This process not only highlights Dangerfield's acute observations of contemporary life but also parodies and exposes the cultural norms and stereotypes prevalent within society. The exhibition features paintings that are rich with graffiti-like imagery and text, incorporating motifs from Prince's own repertoire such as the Hippie Drawings, Protest Paintings, Cheque Paintings, and High Times. This melding of content forms a cynical view of Americana and its identity, where jokes sometimes disintegrate into phrases that suggest deeper societal issues (FAD Magazine) (Ocula Art).
Richard Prince is celebrated for his innovative use of appropriation, using imagery and text sourced from advertisements, comics, and mass media to critique and parody the cultural landscape of modern America. His Joke Paintings, which began in the early 1980s, are a pivotal example of this approach. Originating from magazines like The New Yorker and Playboy, these paintings have evolved in style, ranging from minimalist text on canvas to complex collages and drawings that question concepts of authorship and the transmission of humor. "Everyday" not only extends Prince's exploration of the joke as a medium but also aligns with his broader critique of American culture and the complexities of its identity (FAD Magazine) (Ocula Art).