With his London debut, Berlin-based Australian artist James Reka explores the splendour of the dancing female form using fluid lines to create a hypnotic and dynamic movement. The title of the show derives from John Milton鈥檚 1645 poem 尝鈥橝濒濒别驳谤辞, in which to 鈥渢rip the light fantastic鈥 alludes to those who dance without inhibition 鈥 and Reka鈥檚 characters do just this.
The silent rhythm to which they twirl and writhe is influenced by everything from Spanish flamenco guitars to the grimy clubs of Berlin鈥檚 inner East, and of course the classical music, which his mother would have danced to.
Reka鈥檚 mother was a professional ballerina who once danced with the Russian ballet, and although the backstreet German discoth猫ques he now calls home could not be further from his upbringing, this fusion of elegance and grit creates an intensity within his work.
The coarse backdrop of Reka鈥檚 scenes is developed through multi-media grounds, and mimics the textured surfaces he paints on in Berlin鈥檚 streets, the artist having been known mainly for his street art 鈥 however this is far from simplistic graffiti. His women are sirens of the nightlife.
Accompanying Reka鈥檚 ten large canvases are a series of painted found objects, or repurposed readymades. Rusted spray cans, bottles, pans and other miscellany are transformed into new works of art, having been found on scavenger hunts around Berlin鈥檚 abandoned warehouses. These final additions tie Reka鈥檚 dance pieces to his background and describe his journey into becoming a formal painter.
Reka: Trip The Light, until 5 October, StolenSpace Gallery, 17 Osborn Street, London, E1 6TD. For more information visit .
For more information on James Reka visit .
Credits
1. James Reka, Trip the Light. Courtesy of the artist and StolenSpace Gallery.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest news in contemporary art and culture.
