Ken Grimes' Cosmic Quest at Galerie Christian Berst

Ken Grimes, an outsider artist, presents 'Space Oddity' at Galerie Christian Berst in Paris, running until January 14, 2024. The exhibition features his signature white-on-black paintings that explore the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, blending scientific observation, obscure theories, and science fiction. Grimes' work is deeply autobiographical, interpreting his life through a series of coincidences he renders correlative. His graphic code is consistent: white paint on black backgrounds, with rare color incursions, capital-letter messages, diagrams, and comic-book imagery. The compositions are programmatic, resembling a neutral official language akin to the universal language created for the 1977 Voyager probes. The exhibition includes a catalog published by the gallery. Bruno Dubreuil's text in artpress contextualizes Grimes within art brut, noting that each artist in this field represents a unique beginning without precedent or descendants, requiring fresh critical tools. The show offers a monologue that reaches metaphysical heights, giving Grimes' imagination an oracular quality.