NO SAINTS IN L.A.

On first inspection, I’d hate to be this guy’s therapist, and on second, I’d hate to be this guy’s therapist. Kill Pixie’s show titled “I’ll Hit You Up Tomorrow” is another successful foray into the L.A. art scene. His adventurous (to put it lightly) portrayal of S&M clad figures sporting dark hoods, animal heads (as slave-drivers or penis puppets) and looming dark forms in pieces titled ‘Group Meetings,’ ‘Bad Hand’ and ‘Ceremonies’ are mostly sold by 8:30pm when I arrive.

Originally a graffiti artist, but known for intricate ink and resin sketches, it’s hard to imagine such delicacy translating through spray cans onto concrete; if his current artwork resembles traditional graffiti, it’s only in the bright color palette. Furthermore, despite the prevalent themes of bondage, manipulation, mutilation, slavery and artifacts of justice money and religion, KP insists that “there’s no real meaning behind it.” He says, “I get influence from all sorts of different cultures. I’m very interested in the patterns they use.” Tonight’s host, the Merry Karnowsky Gallery, helped move KP from Australia to L.A. I wonder – after more than a year’s worth of time in L.A., is tonight’s collaboration what the city hath wrought? Colonies of self-mutilating, gun-toting men and canine slave-drivers wallowing in cash? KP says that for the most part he likes “to keep the dialogue open so people can make their own decisions on what is happening.” I can’t decide if I am stating the obvious or interpreting meaning.

KP is set up to become an art world superstar. The eclectic crowd is booming, and celebrities drift in and out – Tim Roth is taking photos. But KP is no where to be seen, and because I don’t know what he looks like, nor I suspect does anyone in my vicinity, vocal opinion varies little and mostly erupts in ecstatic “Isn’t it FAN-tastic!” Because there’s an air of pretension, and general eyeballing, I’d hate to see what happens to the fool who wanders in and declares “What is this shit?!”

There are three rooms and the gallery is a wide “L” shape. In the back, KP has constructed a live installation. With light streaming from the other rooms, a hot pink, pinball machine, decorated in more masked men, is illuminated in the middle of the room. A pair of headphones is attached to the pinball machine. Surprisingly, what’s playing is a loop of chirping birds, completely antipathetic to the cosmic techno playing over the loud speakers. Just a few feet away, along a wall painted black is a piece of spotlighted artwork from which two small speakers protrude from the bottom. If you get close, static erupts from each.  These pieces are titled ‘Future Living’ and ‘Future Spa.’  Did anyone else just get the heebie-jeebies? 

It takes more than patience to achieve Kill Pixie’s artistry. His artwork is heavily structured, geometric and delicate. Although KP admits his work is tedious, he is obviously committed to his aesthetic and his artwork makes you think – sick and twisted thoughts maybe – but the brain is ticking. Still, after tonight’s show, I find myself questioning his celebrity. Is this our generation’s Andy Warhol? Our new Picasso? Probably not. As someone I know put it, “I don’t want to see dementia on canvas.”

KILL PIXIE

MERRY KARNOWSKY GALLERY

Tags: Art Show, Kill Pixie