GILDAS COUDRAIS

Germany-based French artist Gildas Coudrais will come to Los Angeles to present his work at Villa Aurora in Pacific Palisades. Coudrais, with his gleam and sparkle signal colors gets very close to the aesthetics of pop-culture. His work is reminiscent of large sized billboards on the Sunset Strip but remains loyal to European tradition. The artist experiments with a wide-ranged repertoire of history of art (very often German Romanticism) which he combines, literally, with quotations from media, advertising and poetry. Taken out of context the parts lose their original meaning and values and the art becomes a multi-layered piece on its own: mysterious, fantastic, and poetic. With his cheerful, partly ironic honesty, the artist puts the fragments and German habits and symbols in a new geographic, moral and intellectual context. What is standard - difference, outside - inside, what is kitsch - what is "bon gout"?

From large-size oil paintings to monochromes and drawings to video and installation, the artist's first L.A. exhibit at Villa Aurora is abundant with variety and complexity.    

www.gildascoudrais.de    

Opening Reception with the artist 

November 15, 2013, 7pm

at Villa Aurora 
520 Paseo Miramar
LA, CA 90272