Exhibition Review: Free Transform
Daniel Gordon
Artichoke and Potatoes, 2023
pigment print with UV lamination
37 1/2 x 30 inches
95.3 x 76.2 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Kasmin, New York.
Written by Max Wiener
Copy Edited by Kee’nan Haggen
Photo Edited by Olivia Castillo
As I stepped into Kasmin, the colorful dream of Daniel Gordon’s Free Transform immediately moved me into a completely different headspace. The air was cold and wet, and the wind whipped me in my face. Gordon’s serenity was precisely the cure that I needed. The Brooklyn-based exhibition opened on April 27 and is scheduled to run until June 3.
Aside from its stunning colors, the exhibition features two and three-dimensional works from the artist, who experimented with different mediums throughout the installation. In his work, Gordon thwarts the contemporary photography process, manipulating color and image before the shutter of the camera closes, leaving the subject unaltered.
His vase work is unique and almost lifelike, with each piece seemingly representing a life force. Small details may represent the folded arms of a scolding mother. Ridges and grooves seem like the dimples on the face of a happy child. They appear to be interacting with you and ushering you into the rest of the exhibition; their presence is inviting.
Daniel Gordon
Succulents and White Orchid, 2023
two parts: pigment print with UV lamination
49 7/8 x 80 inches, overall
126.7 x 203.2 cm
49 7/8 x 40 inches, each
126.7 x 101.6 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Kasmin, New York.
By an immense margin, this series's focal point is the massive, seven-panel, 23-foot Panoramic Still Life, a delicious photographic print of Gordon’s vases amplified. It feels as though it’s the field map of the exhibition, showing what we’re looking at on a profoundly grand scale; it only adds to the scene's beauty. What he’s doing with Still Life is showing what the camera is capable of, far beyond black-and-white stills and simple shots. The colors and the facade are so clearly distorted, warping our imagination and perception of what conventional art could (or may) be. It feels psychedelic in the best sense of the word. The two-dimensional aspect of this series feels as real as his physical work. The plants and scenery breathe, giving off a gorgeous hue that feels ever so real and alive. If you squint your eyes and truly immerse yourself in the world of Gordon’s panels, you can almost see the work moving and flowing with your every breath.
Daniel Gordon
Jade and Lobsters, 2023
pigment print with UV lamination
49 7/8 x 40 inches
126.7 x 101.6 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Kasmin, New York.
On a broader scale, they also represent an homage to Western art traditions and their themes. These tabletop settings, adorned with plant life, vases, and even a lobster, are reminiscent of classic Baroque paintings, where oil on canvas created a beautifully pristine world. Gordon’s work is almost shocking compared to this old-style technique, but the similarities are uncanny. It feels like Gordon is adding a splash of humor to it, pointing out the irony of these sometimes stuffy renditions. They also show, much like Warhol did with his prints, the iconoclastic nature, and beauty of such mundane objects that can be seen as profound pieces of art when placed on a figurative pedestal. The more you look at his work, the more you see and the more beauty you notice in the world.
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