Jasper Johns' Late Paintings at Matthew Marks Gallery Confront Mortality Through Grief and Self-Examination
Between February 9 and April 6, 2019, recent paintings and works on paper by Jasper Johns were showcased at Matthew Marks Gallery in New York City. The exhibition included pieces influenced by Larry Burrows' LIFE magazine photograph of mission leader Farley, renamed "Farley Breaks Down After Larry Burrows." Johns reinterpreted the image through marks, paint puddles, silkscreened cartoons, and play money. Another collection echoed John Deakin's photograph of Lucian Freud, forming skull-like shapes. Approaching 90, Johns' later works demonstrate deep examination, alluding to past images and optical illusions. In his catalogue essay, Alexi Worth highlights Johns' disdain for the mundane, addressing themes of mortality and regret, while employing stark acrylic textures rather than his earlier encaustic techniques.
Key facts
- Exhibition dates: February 9 to April 6, 2019
- Location: Matthew Marks Gallery, 522 West 22nd Street, New York City
- Featured series based on Larry Burrows' LIFE magazine photo of Farley grieving after Vietnam battle
- Works include altered title "Farley Breaks Down After Larry Burrows" instead of original "Farley Gives Way"
- Another series references John Deakin's photograph of Lucian Freud previously used in "Regrets" paintings at MoMA
- Jasper Johns was approaching 90 years old at time of exhibition
- Alexi Worth wrote catalogue essay describing Johns' "scrupulousness"
- Works feature optical illusions, mirroring techniques, and references to Picasso and earlier Johns works
Entities
Artists
- Jasper Johns
- Carroll Dunham
- Alexi Worth
- Willem de Kooning
- Pablo Picasso
- Lucian Freud
- Francis Bacon
- Pierre Bonnard
- Damien Hirst
Institutions
- Matthew Marks Gallery
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- LIFE magazine
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Vietnam