Calvin Marcus's 'Were Good Men' Exhibition at Clearing Gallery Explores War Imagery
Calvin Marcus showcased his third solo exhibition titled 'Were Good Men' at Clearing Gallery in Brooklyn from September 9 to November 6, 2016. This exhibition included 39 large paintings, each measuring 101 1/2 by 79 inches, featuring depictions of deceased soldiers or grass set against ochre backgrounds. The 28-year-old artist from Los Angeles has drawn parallels to Michael Krebber and Sue Williams, referencing historical war art such as Goya's 'Disasters of War.' The works, characterized by cartoonish portrayals of disfigured soldiers, evoke a darkly comedic tone while minimizing the harsh realities of warfare. The show juxtaposes these images with actual war footage, including a 2015 ISIS execution video, critiquing the Western media's representation of conflict and questioning military power and the acknowledgment of soldiers' sacrifices amid the 2016 elections.
Key facts
- Calvin Marcus's exhibition 'Were Good Men' ran from September 9 to November 6, 2016
- The show featured 39 paintings, each 101 1/2 by 79 inches
- All works were created in 2016 and titled either 'Dead Soldier' or 'Grass'
- Marcus was 28 years old and based in Los Angeles at the time
- This was his third solo exhibition at Clearing Gallery
- The paintings depict cartoonish soldier carcasses on ochre backgrounds
- The review references a 2015 ISIS execution video of Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh
- The exhibition address was 396 Johnson Avenue at Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn
Entities
Artists
- Calvin Marcus
- Francisco Goya
- John Singer Sargent
- Michael Krebber
- Sue Williams
- Chapman brothers
Institutions
- Clearing Gallery
- Royal Jordanian Air Force
- Department of Defense
- ISIS
Locations
- Brooklyn
- United States
- Los Angeles
- Jordan
- Syria
- Iraq
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Libya
- Somalia
- Pakistan