4689.85 degrees kelvin: Luis Gispert

I've been wanting to show Luis Gispert's work for a little while. I think, as we venture home for the holidays, it is important to remember the journey. Let's just think about all the other folks around the globe who are doing the same thing: hitting the road. Though Gispert's recent work does not necessarily comment on traveling, his vehicle interiors against lewd backgrounds have a marvelous unpredictability and eccentricity, kind of like the holidays.

Venturing away from the holidays for a second, Gispert's photographs recreate sitting in many iconic vehicles: Airplanes such as the B17, & even the Knight Rider. Teasing are these photographs: we are unable to explore further the intricacies of the machineries nor are we able to really explore the scene behind the windshields.

I take this, and much of Gispert's work both very seriously and humorous. On one level his work seems to be about baseline curiosity. But on another, there are very deeply troubling. The level of ambiguity alone- both marked physically by the compositions of the vehicles and marked by questions of 'where' (did these vehicles come from) 'why' (are they here) 'what) (is going on)- can be highly thought provoking. One of my favorite images, L.V. Escalade, acts as a good example. Sure, the fact that such a vehicle exists is humorous and kind of troubling. However, I am most intrigued by the angle at which the vehicle is situated against the background scene. It is an automobile, yet it seems to be ascending as would an airplane. Yet I can't really know, because its a photograph- an instance in time. I am left wondering 'why here', on a snowy desolate background would a very out-of-place automobile be travelling? Also fascinating for me is how close the driver's seat is to the steering wheel. Beyond telling me that a very short person must be driving this very big car, it, aided by the colors and patterns of the car's leather, implies a gender which aids in the mystery of the scene at hand.

For my work, I've taken inspiration from Gispert's color palate (which glows neon metallic with a strongly digital luster) and from his ideas. I aim in the work I am pursuing now to have the same level of interest and curiosity.

Have a safe trip everyone.