SYSTEM SETTINGS CHANGE
a solo exhibition by Alex Markwith
EXHIBITION ON VIEW
7 - 29 January 2023
OPENING RECEPTION
Thursday 5 January
17:00-19:00
Galleria K / Vantaan Taiteilijaseura
Asematie 7, 01300 Vantaa Tikkurila
WED 12-18:00
THU+FRI 11-17:00
SAT+SUN 12-16:00
opening reception drinks sponsored by Fat Lizard
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
System Settings Change is a solo exhibition of paintings on canvas by Alex Markwith.
Diverging from and building on Markwith’s signature abstract style, the paintings incorporate images such as skulls, oil barrels, computer icons, error messages, and fragments from NASA photos of outer space.
Stylistically, the works blend abstract expressionism, surrealism and street art while referencing current issues such as artificial intelligence and the global energy crisis. The recurrence of the skull image recalls war and death, but it is also a contemplative reminder of the role the individual plays in conceptualizing the bigger picture.
This exhibition is the first time Markwith has used digital collage throughout his planning process. Though objects in the paintings are rendered from digital photographic references, the works are done entirely by hand with low tech manual tools. Each is built up in layers using acrylic, spray paint and collage materials such as paper, tape and wood, emphasizing their physicality.
The title of the exhibition is a computer error message Markwith encountered on his Windows desktop while working on the exhibition.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Alex Markwith (b. 1988, USA) is an American visual artist based in Helsinki, where he moved in 2020 after nine years in New York City. Known for his abstract, mixed media paintings and sculptures, Markwith has held solo exhibitions in New York, Paris, Vaasa and Helsinki and has participated in over fifty group exhibitions worldwide. Markwith earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design, during which he completed the European Honors Program in Rome, Italy. Markwith has received grants from Taike and the City of Helsinki. His work is included in numerous private collections and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
