33 BOND GALLERY INTRODUCES “AUTOROUTE”
PHILIPPE NUELL’S FIRST U.S. SOLO EXHIBITION
April 18–May 16, 2007
Opening April 18, 7–9 pm
New York, NY—“Autoroute”, an exhibition of new paintings from French artist Philippe Nuell, will be on view this spring at 33 Bond Gallery.
Nuell documents his daily life, taking snapshots of everything from a restaurant window and a highway sign, to his girlfriend sitting in the bathroom or the Cyclone in Brooklyn, which he then uses as models for his large-scale paintings. His work refers to realms both private and public, presenting images of intimate moments and public places that evoke shared experiences—seeing a highway unroll for miles on a road trip, posing for photos at a friend’s wedding, or looking up a roller coaster’s slope with nervous excitement. Through his work Nuell explores the singularity of the banal and quotidian, emphasizing the grace and splendor of insignificant everyday scenes.
Nuell casts the viewer in both an active and voyeuristic role when he places them in the backseat of a car, in his bathroom, or on his balcony looking onto the street below, allowing one to catch glimpses of his personal life. The narrative paintings project the ephemeral touch of photography but transcend it through his use of color and application of paint. At first glance “En Voiture”, one of his largest works, offers a view of a highway filled with cars and busses cutting through a wooded landscape. But closer observation reveals the car’s dashboard, rearview mirror, steering wheel, and driver, changing the viewer’s perspective and experience as they become a participant in a private moment between the driver and passengers. “Soft Scrub”, depicts a nude woman in a bathroom, sitting on a toilet, catching the reflecting light from the sink. Both works exemplify Nuell’s technique and exploration of the triviality and exquisiteness of daily activity.
Nuell (b. 1970) graduated from L’Ecole Superieure d’Arts Graphiques (ESAG), Paris, in 1994. His work has been the subject of several solo exhibitions in France, and has been included in several group shows across Western Europe. In 2004, Nuell’s work was included in the 27th Annual Harper College National Small Work Exhibition, curated by Lynne Warren, Curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, as well as in a group show at Pierogi Gallery in Brooklyn. He lives and works in New York City.
