Save the Date: Opening Reception for “The Space Monkey Returns” with Artist James Marshall (aka Dalek) at Thinkspace Gallery – December 2nd

Join us this Saturday December 2nd, at Thinkspace Gallery, for the opening reception of “The Space Monkey Returns” featuring new works by North Carolina-based artist James Marshall.

Also known by his mutant cyborg epithet “Dalek,” an ode to the classic sci-fi British series Doctor Who, Marshall is most widely known for his iconic character “Space Monkey,” who first appeared in his early graffiti work in 1995 and was to become a mainstay of the artist’s imagery.

Dedicated to the Space Monkey’s unexpected reprieve from a decade-long hibernation, this special exhi- bition features old, new, and rare works, revisiting the deranged rodent and the extraterrestrial mutant handler namesake that started it all.

From the press release:

This maniacally unhinged looking ball-shaped cartoon mouse, often seen wielding a blood dappled cleav- er, is equal parts avatar, alter ego, and geometric abstraction. The figure became an emblem of sorts for the artist and a recurring protagonist used to convey themes in which he was interested. Space Monkey was a stand-in for the idea of the individual caught in a frenetic landscape of technology and misinfor- mation, an obsequious reliance on tech “progress” Marshall felt would, presciently, it should be noted, reduce us all to “button pushers.” Inspired by Marshall’s affinity for Japanese pop, street art, and punk culture, Space Monkey became a vehicle for the exploration of a variety of ideas and themes.

Marshall’s practice has since evolved into a highly detailed form of neo-geo, or geometric abstraction, expertly executed with hard-edging and endless gradations of color. Each time-consuming panel can take upwards of 150 hours to paint and attests to the meticulous technical facility needed to create them. At times the Space Monkey has reappeared, or at least the kaleidoscopically dissembled suggestion of his parts, but he has been enjoying a prolonged sabbatical, until now, that is. Marshall’s critically acclaimed paintings, murals, and site-specific public projects have also found new expression in recent installation- based works, pushing his aesthetic into exciting, and transformative, new dimensional contexts.

Read the interview with James Marshall from Sour Harvest here.

Exhibition:
“The Space Monkey Returns” with James Marshall aka Dalek
December 2nd – December 23rd
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 12-6 pm

Opening Reception:
Saturday December 2nd (6-9pm)

Address/Contact Information:
Thinkspace Gallery
6009 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Tel.310.558.3375