Gone Fishin'
DUAL at the Galveston Arts Center
Over the years, I have encountered several avid fishermen among Houston’s artistic community. Not surprisingly, many end up in or near Galveston. That’s where I saw DUAL’s small exhibit, It’s Called Fishin’, Not Catchin’, at the Galverton Arts Center.
I have no idea if DUAL lives anywhere near Galveston or even if he is a fisherman. I was told by Matt Manalo that DUAL is from Alief, a large neighborhood in southwest Houston. Based on this exhibit, I suspect DUAL likes fishin’.
DUAL comes out of the world of street art. If you have your eyes peeled, you will run across his murals here and there in Houston. DUAL has an instantly recognizable style among graffiti artists: his work is full of hard edges, but whatever he is depicting at the moment with be cut-up and visually disassembled. The word “cubism” comes to mind, but the sleek, well-defined lines and intense colors distinguish him from his cubist antecedents. DUAL’s painting has a poster-like intensity, which is desirable for a mural.
It feels a little strange seeing his work on paper and canvas displayed in a small gallery if you are used to seeing out on the street. But as readers of this blog may remember, DUAL had a huge exhibit at Reeves Art + Design back in December. That one was a huge spectacle—It’s Called Fishin’, Not Catchin’ is relatively quiet. The pieces are visually intense, as all of DUAL’s work is. But fishing is an inherently calm and contemplative activity, and this exhibit reflects that.
DUAL puts his paintings on the wall, but the exhibit also applies tape directly to the wall. The wall itself becomes the frame. One is not surprised that a graffiti artist makes use of the wall as part of his visual presentation.
If you saw A Trip Thru the Jungle at Reeves last year, you wil be familiar with DUAL’s shaped paintings. The two best works in this show are shaped paintings of fish that were caught and some that got away.
Catching a fish and failing to catch a fish seem like equally valuable aspects of fishing.
At one end of the gallery, DUAL displays fishing poles painting in bright, electirc colors. He combines his artistc self and his fishing self in one place.
If there is one work that typifies this exhibit, it is The One That Got Away. DUAL tossed his hook in the water, the fish leaped after the bait, but avoided the hook. Way to go, Mr. Fish!
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A very enjoyable review. And well, I guess it turns out his art is suitable for framing
A very enjoyable review. And well, I guess it turns out his art is suitable for framing