GIORDAN RUBIO
There is, according to Giordan Rubio, an “intricate dance between chaos and control” that forms the basis of his practice. There is a sort of spilling of signs and systems (or, in some works, the suggestion of half-formed signs and systems) as if delving into Rubio’s personal inventory of referents. The idea of abundance is obvious, but for Rubio, it’s a delicate act of orchestrating order from imagery divorced from its original context now contending for immediacy in a new format.
As viewers, we operate almost like directors of our own narrative, creating meaning as we ‘jump cut’ between where a graphic narrative develops through their presence or persistence. Logos, sayings, art historical references, cliches, icons, bits of text, and personal
‘in-jokes’ all make appearances. This is like the graffiti artist’s tag, elevated for 21st century audiences who are used to the inundating avalanche of images. Here, Rubio allows us to pick and choose which series of images most reflects our interests.
Semiology is the study of signs and symbols and their use and function. In contemporary society, we have become accustomed to decoding iconography – everything from driving down the highway to using Apps to recognizing famous logos – but here Rubio is gently toying with our expectations - capturing the spirit of a moment or even, it seems, destabilizing it at the same time. It is though he is capturing a zeitgeist while at the same time gently poking fun at the entire scaffolding that uses a word like ‘zeitgeist’ without irony.
Societal frameworks, chains of addiction, media, and even – for Rubio – his personal dreams come into play. The idea that his personal narrative works its way in tells viewers that these works are not entirely cynical, that there’s an intimacy and, probably, deeper personal narrative that threads through each work. For viewers, however, those connections are delivered, pressed up against the proverbial glass, and ready for us to pluck from (sub)consciousness, sort of like a psychological ‘Where’s Waldo.’ Happy hunting!
GIORDAN RUBIO (b. 1998) is from Nice, France and currently living in London, UK. Rubio graduated from École de Condé in 2021 and is currently completing his MA with the RCA.
Solo exhibitions include: Good and Evil, Taglialatella Galleries, New York, USA (2023).
Group exhibitions include: Future Fair, BEERS London, New York (2024); Scope Art Show, Miami, USA (2023); Gallery Red, Palma de Mallorca, Spain (2023); Studer, Abidjan, Senegal (2023); Abstract Mag, Milan, Italy (2022); Momentum Art Gallery, Nice, France (2022); Nextstreet Gallery, Paris, France (2021); Zanini Arte, San Benedetto, Italy (2020) and Carousel Fine Art, Miami, USA (2019).
