Julian Opie The distinct creative language is acknowledged all through the world – both in huge pubic sculpture, digital animations or paint, its human figures at all times shock how a lot individuality is transmitted in such decreased kinds. His latest work, on View Now at Lisson Gallery in New York, performs with scale, motion and three completely different supplies, additionally begins a brand new sequence of works that’s his first to indicate kids.
Exhibition visualization of “Julian Opie” in Lisson, New York Gallery, February 13 – April 19, 2025 © Julian Opie, Coutsy Lisson Gallery
The middle of the room homes 4 huge aluminum sculptures, every with a peak of about 10 meters. The works, all painted in excessive automotive paint, are a part of the “Bus Walker sequence” which captures vacationers alongside the ocean in Busan, Korea. The “purple telephone” and “yellow telephone” are stand-outs that seize the pedestrians on the telephone whereas they go with out breaking.
Exhibition visualization of “Julian Opie” in Lisson, New York Gallery, February 13 – April 19, 2025 © Julian Opie, Coutsy Lisson Gallery
Julian Opie, “Yellow telephone, 2023” © Julian Opie, Courtesy Lisson Gallery
A lot of pleasure comes from the juxtaposition of artwork and true folks. I took a selfie for the aim of demonstrating the large sudden scale of all of the works right here (under) and, as I checked the picture on my telephone, I noticed that my very own silhouette of the telephone was appropriate with these of the sculptures-which brought about a smile from one other customer who simply entered the gallery. It’s a reminder (and a advice) that this exhibition and all his Opie’s works grow to be higher when shared with strangers. Work is about folks, each in work and round it.
Julian Opie, “Reception B. (Junior Grinder B), 2024”, with the writer.
My favourite works are the primary representations of the youngsters of Opie, right here reaching 13 meters excessive on the wall. Created from manually painted resin that resembles stone, every of the three massive works has a unique stage of age/diploma: kindergarten (illustrated above), class I (with inexperienced background) and third class (brown background). It may possibly take a minute to watch the age distinction between every work, as a result of every group is scaled on the identical peak – inviting to match clothes, step and proportion from one work to a different.
It steps nearer and the work breaks visually in a pure abstraction. The black contours are deeply embedded, which causes you to lose the picture and see solely the depth and materials.
Julian Opie, “Reception B. (Junior Backyard B), 2024” (element)
Exhibition visualization of “Julian Opie” in Lisson, New York Gallery, February 13 – April 19, 2025 © Julian Opie, Coutsy Lisson Gallery
The Lisson Gallery in New York can have my favourite lighting of any gallery, with two lengthy traces of slender lights that present daylight, regardless of the excessive -line park above the top. In a earlier exhibition, the luminators had been used to create an actual rainbow, and right here that very particular angle and the standard of the sunshine offers every of those reliefs a that means that you simply see them in a cave or an historic temple.
Julian Opie, 12 months four A. (third grade A), 2024. © Julian Opie, Courtesy Lisson Gallery
Julian Opie “Yr four A. (third class A), 2024” (element)
Julian Opie “Yr four A. (third class A), 2024” (element)
The alternative partitions have three massive LED screens, every at about 6 meters, which show infinite animations of the identical three teams of kids. Right here I am going in the identical route and by no means go away the body, as if every one is on an invisible working band.
Brilliant LED pixels supply the works a particularly crisp presentation in individual. And though there is a wonderful video of the exhibition (under) produced by the gallery, the digital works should be seen personally. It may be a hypnotic expertise to observe the distinctive strolling kinds and completely different step speeds together, falling into and from synchronization to create a wierd poly-rhythm that may preserve you at work for a number of minutes.
Exhibition visualization of “Julian Opie” in Lisson, New York Gallery, February 13 – April 19, 2025 © Julian Opie, Coutsy Lisson Gallery
Julian Opie “Reception.
Julian Opie’s work is an invite to see your pedestrian world and colleagues with a recent eye – to be amazed within the gallery itself after which to see new rhythms of the town endlessly if you exit.
And if you’re in Los Angeles or Baltimore, observe to seize digital public works on varied screens in cities, working with the New York exhibition! Be taught extra right here.
What: Julian Opie
The place: Lisson Gallery, 504 W 24Th St, New York, NY
When: February 13 – April 19, 2025
All pictures of artwork and set up © Julian Opie, Courtesy Lisson Gallery.
Detailed (and selfie) pictures by David Behringer.
