V1 Gallery presents
UMMMM
A solo exhibition by Thomas Campbell
In his own humble words Thomas Campbell (born 1969) merely creates stuff. But at the same time he is a prominent and necessary catalyst in one of the most interesting contemporary art movements in America. A movement where artists, filmmakers, photographers and musicians joined forces and created a new art scene and redefining the term folk art. A scene that involves creators like Bonnie Prince Billy,Tommy Guerrero, Margaret Kilgallen, Chris Johanson, Ed Templeton, Barry McGee, Aaron Rose and many others. And a scene that got the accidental title Beautiful Losers based on a book and exhibition curated by Aaron Rose and Christian Strike in 2004.
Thomas Campbell's artistic universe is filled with soft curves, subtle tones, quirky poetic quotations and strange characters. A friendly melancholy and a loving gratefulness are embedded in each work. But don't let it fool you. Underneath the calm surface an undercurrent of opposition and rebellion roams. An uneasy ocean of text fragments, aggressive abstract patterns and strange mixed material compositions. His strokes could go either way along or against the fur. Like a welcoming high five, that could potentially turn it to a well-deserved slap in the face.
