Out of Character is an exhibition focusing on the development of identity through form and narrative in characterized or stylized figurative work, presented here in the form of moving animation, drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Early animations and humorous artworks, or “cartoons”, were not taken seriously as fine art, even though institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art’s film department supported animation in a variety of ways since its inception in 1935. Historians and curators have tried to define and redefine the canon of fine art and how it’s represented in the art world. Over the relatively short history of contemporary fine art hierarchies emerged, various styles and genres were considered “real” art or less than. It was not until the advent of Pop Art in the 1960s, with artists like Lichtenstein and others who began to appropriate cartoon styles in their work, that the distinctions and hierarchies began to be dismantled.
The animations portray a variety of subjects, styles, media, and techniques. Some are developed using stop-motion, capturing hand-drawn and cutout images, some with computer software, and others calling their style “lo-tech,” flip book, and even live performance projection. While some of the works reference cartoons, these are not corporate franchise Marvel or Disney-like products. They are unique and idiosyncratic inventions.
This exhibition is co-curated by Pierogi Gallery and Willy Hartland.
View Mana Contemporary
