Anders Hafsbrandt Explores the Faux Joie De Vive of Society’s Outcasts

Inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec and the lyrics of Bellman, an 18th century Swedish songwriter, Swedish-born Anders Hafsbrandt explores the decadent and romantic sadness of society’s outcasts.

“I place the poor, misunderstood and drunken people in exclusive environments and a tension emerges,” notes the artist. Employing saturated red tones and broad, coarse brushstrokes, we see the artist’s passion for depicting the dance and intimate interludes of lovers and partygoers of a bygone era. As the artist suggests, these are life’s stories, pictures from a book yet unwritten.

Through melancholy and a faux joie de vivre, Hafsbrandt places the castaway, the misunderstood, the despised in a social environment that accepts them only as masked guests. He skillfully portrays the broken and fragile with a sympathetic air, adding emotion and a narrative that viewers may interpret in their own way. Employing imaginatively staged imagery, the artist draws on an inner compassion for his subjects, displaying them in a “cabaret of life.” Taken as a whole, the works of Hafsbrandt elate and delight, moving us to various states of reflection as we consider life’s intricate journey.
Exhibition Dates: November 29, 2014 – December 19, 2014
Reception: Thursday, December 4, 2014, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 11-6
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, Chelsea, New York

Event URL: http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/Anders_Hafsbrandt.aspx

Reconstructing Reality

Tamo | EBELGARLE | Christopher Breining | Michelle Cadreau | Mirjam Clement | DINO | Shams | Elisa Grion | Anders Hafsbrandt | Lise Zia | Julia Kappenman | Alejandra Larrea Koch | Virpi Leinonen | Varvara Liakounakou | Vivienne McDermott | Veronica Murphy | Ion Nicola | Geneviève Nicolas | Gerd Rautert | C. Selves | David W. Whitfield | Wei Xiong | Viktor Yaichnikov | Tanya Mayer

About the Exhibition

The variety that exists in the exhibition, Reconstructing Reality, creates a sense of exploration that cannot be denied. The viewer is able to go from the ephemeral to the figurative in just a few moments, only to be snapped back to an equally jarring duality between works of traditional embroidery and surreal landscapes. The contrast, though strong, is far from harsh, with each piece made entirely accessible by the expertise each artist puts into their own styles and works, allowing for the viewer to fully enjoy the full range of art on display.