gilbert & george: jack freak pictures at baronian francey art gallery, brussels

gilbert & george: jack freak picturesthe baronian francey art gallery, brusselsfrom september 11th to october 31st, 2009

‘flagwood’ 2008, 226 x 254 cm, 12 panels image © gilbert & george image courtesy baronian francey art gallery

this newest series contains the largest number of pieces thus far, and continues to explore themes which the two have addressed over the last number of years – everything concerning life is a potential subject for their art. this most recent work continues to break down the rules of social propriety with a calmness and a detachment that is very english.

the images they work with include the english flag, the map of the district of east london (fournier st.) where their studio is located, trees, graffiti and medals are all subjects from which they draw the narrative for their work. once again, gilbert and george are the protagonists of their art, their faces and bodies appearing in many of the images. using computer processes, they are represented in a stylized and often distorted way, in a metaphor of human beings attached to their social, religious and sexual norms.

‘briticism’ 2008, 226 x 254 cm, 12 panels image © gilbert & georgeimage courtesy baronian francey art gallery

‘cancan’ 2008, 226 x 190 cm, 9 panels image © gilbert & georgeimage courtesy baronian francey art gallery

‘cyclopean’ 2008, 226 x 381 cm, 18 panels image © gilbert & georgeimage courtesy baronian francey art gallery

some of the new work displays images exploding into fragments melting into kaleidoscopic shapes mixing the monstrously grotesque with an ornamental jumble reminiscent of sacred art.

‘flag leaf’ 2008, 226 x 190 cm, 9 panels image © gilbert & georgeimage courtesy baronian francey art gallery