JPS Gallery is pleased to present Gab More’s first solo exhibition The Skies Have Eyes for Knives at the gallery’s Tokyo location. Born in Trois-Rivières, Canada, More moved to Montreal in 2018 to pursue his career and studies. The Skies Have Eyes for Knives is the artist’s first solo exhibition outside Canada and the first solo exhibition at JPS Gallery.
The Skies Have Eyes for Knives presents a series of figurative paintings each portraying a divine messenger, a heavenly being, an angel of some sorts. Every angel composed of layers upon layers of geometric shapes with sharpened edges and pointy tips – resembling knives, swords or very sophisticated weapons, almost becomes a modern take on medieval crusaders expeditions fighting for the life of souls. Each painting encapsulates a different state relating to the course of servitude, doubt, suffering or threat and eventually hopes of rebirth.
The exhibition is a contemplative presentation of nine works inspired by the artist’s personal perception of the concept of organised religions. The observation More made is that religions as institutions often exploited the belief in spirituality and so-called divine powers as tools for subjugation, perversely using fear as a means of control and manipulation of the masses. Following the idea of signs from the sky and universe turned into evidence of divine rights used to offer absolution, More creates his own iconostasis. Providing a consolation to those who might be searching for a higher purpose, he creates a visual language that is always desired and most often welcomed by inquisitive humankind. Occurrences in nature, personified evil, vengeful creatures, dangerously empowered and the heretics, all become almighty, ready to be exchanged in search of indulgence and amusement.
Gabriel Moreau who goes by the artist name of Gab More is a multidisciplinary artist and painter interested in investigating the aesthetically, iconographical and sociological influences contemporary post-internet culture holds on his perception of the human condition. Through his creative process, More crosses the line between digital and tangible, back and forth, until the resulting works sit in purgatory between the two as non longer belonging to either.
JPS Gallery (Tokyo)
1/F, Tobu 2nd Building, 6-27-4, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
