Press release

MONTI8 is very excited to announce What I Want You to See, a group show curated by Thom Oosterhof and featuring: Jochen Mühlenbrink , Logan Sibrel, Jacob Todd Broussard, Ramiro Hernandenz, Stephen Buscemi, Jose Bonell, Grace Lee, Paul Robas, Julien Heintz,
Marguerite Piard, and Giulio Noccesi.
This show plays with the idea of the artist having total control on what it is we see in their work. Almost as if they are leaving a portion of the image or of the truth / story hidden from us, the viewer. This leaves space for us to put the pieces together but more importantly gives
the artist the dominion to dictate the narrative. This mystery / intrigue really challenges the viewer and reminds them that the artist is in charge and that they are telling their story. Instead of us assuming and deciding what it is that we see.
The works of Julien Heintz ( France, 1997) are both abstract and figurative at the same time. He depicts human figures that are not easy to recognize at a first glance. Their faces emerge from a surface built on a dark palette and shaded forms, where the body seem to struggle to
come out. A similar idea belongs to the practice of Jochen Mühlenbrink (Germany, 1980), who uses brighter colors that hide people or urban landscapes. His paintings reproduce fogged windows marked by some signs which make visible a small part of what’s behind the
“glass”.
As Heintz and Mühlenbrink , also the work of Stephen Buscemi (United States, 1996) is characterized by a soft painting, dark tones and rerified shapes. He’s interested both inhuman figure and interior, that he paints with the same feeling of intimacy. Intimacy is conveyed by the pictorial gesture of Jose Bonell (Spain, 1989 ) too : through referencies to literature and history, he reflects on the relationship with the contemporary
world, describing specific moments.
Paul Robas (Romania, 1989) focuses on his surroundings. He incorporates on the canvas elements from political, historical and social events and compares them with his individual everyday experience, all merged with a very intense palette.
Grace Lee (United Kingdom, 1995) portays subjects made by repeated motifs that underlinea strong, grahyc style. She draws inspiration from different sources, like from the British Museum Collection or by the famous Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige, all sources that she
re-elaborates with her own view.

Logan Sibrel (United States, 1986) catches moments of intimacy, representing his scenes from a very close point of view. This proximity doesn’t allow to recognize the figures that populate the subject, creating a sense of closeness as well as anonymity, where the sexual
tension is suggested, but is never explicit.

The painting practice of Ramiro Hernandez (United States, 1986) focuses on youth, beauty, aspiration and self-discovery. Having grown up in San Diego, the artist’s work is influenced by the suburban and coastal landscapes of Southern California. Dominated by dusty and warm pinks, purples and greys, his paintings highlight the beauty and wonder of the area’s awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Jacob Todd Broussard (United States, 1992) practice work draws inspiration from the ornamental grotesque, creation myths, and mysticism. Among its manifold entry points, his paintings also grapple with the concept of hermeticism as a path toward receiving grace.
The work of Marguerite Piard (France, 1996 ) always depicts women bodies or only details of them. Her paitings are focused on very private moments marked by warm tones that creates cosy atmophere and make the inner-self of the characters emerge.
The pictorial research of Giulio Noccesi (Italy, 1996) starts from the contrast between the serious legacy of pre-Renaissance Italian painting and the playfulness of illustrations for children. The need to combine play and solemnity leads to the distortion of the represented forms and the insertion of surreal elements.
The exhibition will be on view in the two spaces of the gallery (via V. Monti 8 and V.le dello
Statuto 37) until April 20