Black History Month by Frantz Lamothe and Martin Dreves Castillo
In celebration of this year’s Black History Month, Galerie SLP makes a statement by exploring the colorfulness and vibrant diversity of the world’s largest diaspora community. A show-stopping voguing performance embraces the powerful artworks and sets the tone: the sensorial experience is bright, bold, and above all, a happy one.
Black History Month: Galerie SLP is showcasing two outstanding artists who grew up and found their roots within the worldwide Black community.
The artwork is honest and cheerful, spanning from collage to abstract painting, creating a touching dialogue on identity, homeland and the uniqueness of Black culture.
While the exhibition communicates the extraordinary heritage of the Black community, it further conveys an honest and powerful message of hope for humanity as a whole.
Black history is meditated upon from a contemporary glance, societal codes and structures of human reality are questioned, past and present representations of Blackness culminate in one celebrative splash of color.
A profoundly human and sincere conversation on identity is stirred, exhibition viewers are invited to deconstruct reality, contemplating the possibility of alternative ways of being. The experience is a transcendental, dreamlike escape, taking a glimpse into the future of the worldwide Black community. In the midst of an intriguing, mysterious yet warm atmosphere, viewers forget themselves in this acidulous, popping color maze. Reflecting on life, death and everything in between, viewers should be brought back to their own, true selves.
MORE INFO: Galerie SLP
https://www.saralilyperez.com/events/black-history-month
Frantz Lamothe
Frantz Lamothe is a Haitian self-taught artist, born in 1961 in Port-au-Prince, who moved to New York at age 6, narrowly escaping dictatorship. There, Lamothe encountered the dynamic world of street art and graffiti, even knitting a friendship with Jean-Michel Basquiat. Love, past experiences and pop art symbols permeate his vibrant acrylic paintings, discussing themes of identity. During the 90s, Lamothe’s artistic production evolved to creating statement “wearable prints” on painted Levi’s denim jackets, a popular series which he recently retook. Lamothe’s art has made him travel all over the world, exhibiting his work in over 50 galleries, from Europe to Japan.
Martin Dreves Castillo
Martin Dreves Castillo is a Colombian-German artist who grew up in Botswana, Colombia and Ecuador before settling in Berlin in 2014. Initially drawing television characters as a young boy, Dreves Castillo now devotes himself to mixed-media paintings, incorporating oil, acrylic and chalk into the creation of his abstract pieces. His focus is about the contrast of complexion and simplicity to show subjects like evolution and growth of the self. The notion of the work is that one can be part of any community, as long as one does what makes them happy. His upcoming projects include a show in New York City as well as returning to Berlin for a small clothing campaign during Berlin Art Week in September.
