Michael Gac Levin's 'Old Skin Horse' exhibition at Woody Gallery explores childhood authenticity in surreal scenes.

From March 12 to May 9, 2021, Woody Gallery in Brooklyn's Williamsburg hosted Michael Gac Levin's exhibition titled 'Old Skin Horse,' curated by Anna Hugo. The showcase included paintings and drawings featuring everyday items such as chairs, swords, helmets, Challah bread, tables, books, and candles, all intertwined with visual puns and Freudian undertones. Levin's artistic style is inspired by Philip Guston's shapes and Pierre Bonnard's use of color, while the exhibition's title nods to Margery Williams' 1922 book 'The Velveteen Rabbit.' Judaic symbols infused the scenes with deeper meaning. The exhibition was framed by two monochrome red ink posters: one resembling a bagel menu listing works like 'Lost Part,' 'Chair Ride,' and 'Drooping Welcome,' and the other titled 'Gift Basket,' depicting a basket filled with symbolic objects. Visitors could only attend by appointment at a discreet location featuring warm wooden walls and a white ceiling, with masks required for entry. Levin's art delves into themes of authenticity, childhood perception, and the transformative journey of toys becoming real, as described in the Skin Horse narrative. He skillfully balances irony and sincerity, referencing Erich Neumann's 1959 work 'Art and the Creative Unconscious,' which discusses artists revisiting archetypal childhood imagery.