Thomas Eggerer's 'Waterworld' painting on view at Petzel through February 20
Thomas Eggerer's 2015 painting 'Waterworld' is currently displayed at Petzel gallery in New York. The large-scale work depicts a vast expanse of water from an elevated perspective, featuring hundreds of identical white male figures engaged in various solitary activities. These figures paddle on floating objects, wade, or stand contemplatively without interacting with one another. A single breaking wave punctuates the composition, which lacks both horizon and shoreline. The painting's repetitive imagery evokes comparisons to Hieronymus Bosch and Thomas Bayrle, while its televisual quality creates an evocative yet nonspecific atmosphere. References to Derek Jarman's 1993 film 'Blue' emerge through the shared use of flat blue expanses and themes of mortality, memory, and cyclical time. The artwork conveys a haunting, awesome, and melancholic mood. Located at 456 W. 18th Street between 9th and 10th avenues, the exhibition remains open until February 20.
Key facts
- Thomas Eggerer presents a single large painting called 'Waterworld' (2015)
- The painting depicts a rolling expanse of water with no horizon or shore
- Hundreds of identical white male figures appear in various postures of restrained enjoyment
- Figures paddle, dip, wade, and stand without interacting
- A single breaking wave punctuates the composition
- The repetition recalls artists like Hieronymus Bosch and Thomas Bayrle
- The work evokes Derek Jarman's 1993 film 'Blue' and themes of mortality and cyclical time
- On view through February 20 at Petzel, 456 W. 18th Street, New York
Entities
Artists
- Thomas Eggerer
- Hieronymus Bosch
- Thomas Bayrle
- Derek Jarman
Institutions
- Petzel
- artcritical
Locations
- New York
- United States