Thomas Eggerer's 'Waterworld' painting on view at Petzel through February 20

Thomas Eggerer's solo exhibition at Petzel features the large-scale painting 'Waterworld' from 2015. Measuring 116 by 161 inches, the oil on canvas depicts a vast aquatic scene from an elevated perspective, lacking any horizon or shoreline. Hundreds of identical white male figures populate the composition, engaging in solitary activities like paddling, wading, or standing contemplatively without interaction. The work's repetitive imagery evokes comparisons to historical artists such as Hieronymus Bosch and Thomas Bayrle, while its televisual aesthetic creates an ambiguous, haunting effect. References to Derek Jarman's 1993 film 'Blue' are noted, drawing parallels in themes of memory, loss, and cyclical time. The painting is described as spooky, awesome, and sad. Located at 456 West 18th Street in New York, the show runs until February 20.