Tell Me How to Get To...
November 4 – 25, 2023 | Opening Reception Saturday, November 4th 1–9 PM
COOP Gallery is pleased to present Tell Me How to get to… by Alonso Galue. Galue’s interest in what is universally human informs his painting subjects. A Venezuelan artist running from a corrupted system building narratives through art installations, his latest work is a series of paper murals portraying the instability of the mind and the eternal conflict with oneself. Using inexpensive materials to address labor, totalitarianism, mental health, and immigration, Galue’s immersive experiences, influenced by Latin American absurdism and magical realism, highlight the abilities of low-income people as laborers, artists, and humans.
“Plaza Sesamo or Sesame Street was a way to learn about American society as an immigrant - new language, new rules, new system - and consequently, myself.” A puppet is an extension of the puppeteer, and as so represents the various character voices that live within our minds. “I do not aspire to make my art beautiful, but rather to be an ongoing investigation that responds to the human condition.” The oversized paintings of self-portraits fighting with themselves while muppets act as observant, actors, or monsters, made with quick and intense brushstrokes, ask from the viewer not their attention but their empathy.
Galue aims to connect people deeply with their own humanity and the humanity of others. Honest and visceral, his work alters the spectator’s everyday routine to stimulate questions about being human, power, comfort, community, society, and ultimately our mental health, which are all hidden under the overload of information that distracts us daily from ourselves.
More about the Artist
Alonso Galue (Venezuelan, b. 1994, Chicago Based) is a multidisciplinary artist whose experimental use of traditional painting and sculpture articulates speeches on labor, existential crisis, and totalitarianism. In his ‘Immigrants to go’ series, for example, he uses clay to portray the faces of food industry workers on floating plates with actual food. As the exhibition progresses, the food rots, creating an uncomfortable situation for the observer. Pulitzer Prize writer Jerry Saltz commented on Instagram - Galue’s work is “a strong voice of the future.” and art critique from the Chicago Tribune considered him as the artist that brings the humanity we are forgetting.
Galue’s work has been exhibited in several museums across Venezuela and artist-run spaces in the US, including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Zulia, Museum of Modern Art Merida, Museum of Miniature Merida, Espacio Proyecto Libertad, University of Los Andes, Void Projects, Agitator Gallery, Belong Gallery, Happy gallery and Elastic Arts. Classically trained, he was Awarded Valencia’s Painting Prize in 2017 and holds a BFA from the University of Los Andes. Learn more about Galue at www.agalue.com or @agalue.
More about COOP
COOP is a curatorial collective made up of artists, curators, thinkers and professors who are committed to expanding Nashville’s dialogue with contemporary art by presenting challenging new or under-represented artists/artworks to our community. COOP is committed to exhibiting art of diverse media and content, with a goal to provide an alternative venue for artists. COOP seeks to initiate a discourse between Nashville and art scenes across the country by inviting artists to show, develop projects and interact with the Nashville community. Open by appointment, Alonso Galue: Tell me how to get to… will have a final viewing on Saturday, November 25th, 9AM-12PM.COOP is a non-profit, 501C3 organization. We are funded by contributions from our members, and donations from our supporters, and we are grateful recipients of a grant from Metro Arts.
For questions contact:info@coopgallery.org, Theresa Buffo at studiobuffo11@gmail.com