David Reed, #659 (Vice and Reflection), 1975/ 1996-2000/ 2007-2011/ 2014-2015/ 2015-2016/ 2016

1975

Medium

Acrylic, alkyd and oil on polyester

Dimensions

189.2 × 459.7 cm

Status

In Gallery Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-156061

The large-format painting #659 (Vice and Reflection) is heavily inspired by the movement of film, exploring the interplay of time, movement, and perception as Reed transfers cinematic composition strategies onto the canvas. In his painting, he transforms the expressive act of applying paint into an artificially controlled representation of the brushstroke, built up through numerous layers of overlapping and sanding down of paint. Here, the artist tests the boundaries between painterly gesture and media aesthetics, influenced by the visual language of the 1980s, especially the TV series Miami Vice. Neon-lit blues and yellows evoke the light and nocturnal atmosphere of Miami as brought to life in the iconic series. Reed’s use of translucent surfaces and intense colors conjures the cool, stylized ambiance typical of cinematic experience. His “brushstroke” elements seem to float out of the image, as if the painting is merging into the space of projection. Reed stages the brushstroke as an image object, moving away from the immediate expressive gesture of abstract expressionism. Since the 1970s, Reed has created works that engage with both the act of painting itself and the perception of surface and depth.