Ray Caesar: Hidden Doors and Secret Rooms
On view March 19th  - April 16, 2005
Opening reception: Saturday, March 19th, 2005 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

 

Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to present Hidden Doors and Secret Rooms, a solo exhibition of giclee prints of digital paintings created by London born, and Toronto based artist Ray Caesar.

 

Prior to developing his unique creations, Caesar spent 17 years working in the Art and Photography Department of The Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto documenting child abuse, surgical reconstruction, psychology and animal research. The artist explains, “I often awake in the middle of the night and realize I have been wondering the hallways and corridors of the giant hospital. It is clear to me that this is the birthplace of all my imagery.” These experiences continually haunt and present themselves in his dreamy images, which draw inspiration from the works of Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, and Paul Cadmus. 

 

Brazilian fashion designer, Karlla Girotto found inspiration in Caesar’s images. His influence is exhibited in the garments themselves as well as the manner in which they were presented. In order to call attention to her artistic influence, Girotto showed her collection outside the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paolo.  

 

Caesar creates his images using three-dimensional modeling software (MAYA). After creating a skeleton model, he then covers these models with painted and manipulated photographic textures he collects. These constructions allow the artist to pose and position the figure in a three dimensional environment. Digital lights and cameras are added with shadows and reflections simulating that of a mysterious and strange “real” world.