News Release
WARSAW — “Works by Jason Myers” is an exhibition of 13 mixed media resin works, nine paintings and one monumental neon and metal sculpture standing 12 feet tall.
Myers is a contemporary painter and sculptor who pushes the boundaries of contemporary art by merging historical reverence with modern abstraction to create works that are both visually striking and spiritually resonant, according to a news release from Atelier, a contemporary art gallery in Warsaw.
Myers maintains two studios, one in Logansport and another in the Netherlands. He is both a prolific and internationally-collected artist, as well as a staunch advocate for the arts and art-based economic development in Northern Indiana.
The two-dimensional works in the show all feature skulls. In his series of large-scale paintings called “Transcendence,” Myers delves into the profound historical symbolism of skulls, exploring their depiction across various cultures as emblems of spiritual protection, good fortune and the deep connection between the living and the spiritual realms.
These large-scale paintings capture the essence of the skull as a powerful talisman, a vessel of spiritual energy that protects and guides, the release states. Myers’ restrained yet impactful palette, juxtaposing blacks and whites with vibrant bursts of color, creates a sense of movement and depth. The overlaid patterns and abstract forms suggest the intricate and often mysterious connections between the material and spiritual worlds. The skulls, emerging from these abstract compositions, seem to hover between worlds, embodying the protective and mystical qualities attributed to them by ancient civilizations.
In a second body of work featured in the show, titled “I WANT ONE!” Myers presents works of skulls overlaid with luxury brand logos. Myers begins with his paintings and drawings of skulls, then scans and digitally edits them with a mash-up of hidden content and luxury brand iconography.
These remastered images are then printed on canvas, followed by additional layers of resin, paint, ink, glitter and dye. The juxtaposition of the skull with the shiny, aspirational icons of luxury brands is an ironic commentary on the absurdity of our society’s obsession with material possessions, the release states. The name for the exhibition, Infinite Jest, is a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet’s famous soliloquy occurs as he contemplates the skull of the recently deceased court jester Yorick.
Within the context of this monologue, Hamlet comments on the futility of life as he struggles with the persistent and ubiquitous human question of whether it is better “to be, or not to be.” Myers’ work evokes this duality of the skull: both a stark reminder of death and a luminous beacon of life’s continuity. Hamlet also centers on the human propensity toward greed, lust and power. This attraction to materiality and wordly desires is the driving theme behind Myers’ logo-laden works.
Finally, the central figure of Infinite Jest is Myers’ 12-foot sculpture “Gavin Luminescence.”
Made from recycled scrap metal, salvaged building materials, and neon lighting, this sculpture is a solitary figure that while weathered and worn still stands bright and strong. A metaphor for human life, “Gavin Luminescence” reminds us that it is indeed better “to be.”
“Jason came to the very first opening at Atelier in March of 2023 and introduced himself,” Atelier Director Sea Grandon said. “I was familiar with his bold and gripping work from various international art fairs and shocked to discover that he lived and worked a mere hour away! He in turn was excited about my ambition to launch a contemporary art gallery in small-town Indiana. We both share a passion for art and culture-driven economic development, and Infinite Jest is just the first of many collaborations we intend to embark upon to bring more beauty, edge and atmosphere to northern Indiana. We both live and practice the idea that you can live local and work global.”
Myers is currently embarking on several arts-related development projects in Logansport including the establishment of a regional art museum called the Indiana Museum of Art.
“My work, and the work of most artists, deals with universal themes and innovative ideas. Non-traditional art centers offer broader audiences access to being part of the dialogue and energy that art provokes,” Myers said.
Grandon says Atelier’s exhibition of Myers’ work will appeal to a wide spectrum of viewers. “Whether you are on your own spiritual journey, a fan of Shakespeare, an anthropologist or philosopher, a MedTech professional, a frustrated member of the electorate, a luxury good aesthete, or someone who wants to commemorate Halloween or Day of the Dead, this show has something for you,” she said.
Infinite Jest: Works by Jason Myers opens Thursday with a party for the artist from 7 to 10 p.m. and runs through Nov. 2. Atelier’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
