Try Again, but Natural
A Solo Exhibition by Rebecca Orcutt
9 June - 8 July
It’s with great pleasure that we present Try Again, but Natural, a new solo exhibition by Seattle-based artist Rebecca Orcutt (b. 1992, US) in Gallery Poulsen. Orcutt has exhibited her works in Gallery Poulsen, alongside her fellow alumni from New York Academy of Art, since 2017 and is now ready to present six new oil paintings which collectively create a personal portrait of our contemporary society’s existential insecurities. The exhibition opens on Friday, June 9th in Gallery Poulsen’s project space with an opening reception from 17.00 to 19.00.
“In today’s world, where we have access to more information than ever before, and are constantly reminded of alternative choices and lifestyles, deciding to commit to any one belief or course of action can be paralyzing. Each choice made carries with it the potential of lingering doubt and a sense of loss of all the options not chosen. Even with unlimited options, we wonder if there is still a "right" choice among them and fear we may be making all the wrong ones.”
- Rebecca Orcutt, 2023
Rebecca Orcutt’s new series of works delve into these questions, presenting a vivid portrait of uncertainty and perpetual second-guessing. The figures in these works are caught in the grips of indecision, questioning their own motivations, and assessing their options. They are haunted by the fear that they might be doing something wrong, or that they might be better off doing something else entirely.
Through meticulously constructed compositions, containing recognizable objects and activities from ordinary life, Orcutt’s new oil paintings portray people engaging in situations that appear familiar. However, the people seem to respond with an intensity that defies reason or logic, making their approaches to these situations unexpected and out of the ordinary. They seem to regard the outcome of these events as of monumental importance; no matter how trivial they may appear. The figures depicted in the scenes struggle with their own decisions and a lack of real faith in what they are doing. This sense of uncertainty creates an artificiality in the scenes, as the figures question their own motivations and the authenticity of their actions. They wonder whether they are truly committed to their beliefs or simply performing them.
Despite the gravity with which these figures approach their respective dilemmas, there is a sense of the absurd in the situations depicted and the plights of the figures themselves. The juxtaposition of the familiar and the bizarre creates a surreal atmosphere, in which the everyday becomes strange and unfamiliar.
On the same day, at the same time, we will also open the very first solo exhibition in Gallery Poulsen by Chinese-born artist Jingyi Wang (b. 1989) who, like Orcutt, is a graduate of New York Academy of Art. Alongside the two solo exhibitions, there will also be a special presentation of three new works by Finnish artist Emilia Nurmivaara (b. 1992) on the occasion of her first-ever sale to a museum. We are looking forward to seeing you for what is undoubtedly going to be an exceptional display and celebration of contemporary figurative painting!
Try Again, but Natural
A Solo Exhibition by Rebecca Orcutt
09.06.23 – 08.07.23
Opening reception: Friday, June 9th, 17.00 – 19.00
The exhibition presents six oil paintings on canvas
Please contact the gallery at [email protected] or tel.+ 45 33 33 93 96 for more info
Installation Images
