James Fuentes LLC
55 Delancey Street, between Allen and Eldridge, 212-577-1201
East Village / Lower East Side
April 7 - May 2, 2010
Reception: Wednesday, April 7, 6 - 8 PM
Web Site
James Fuentes LLC is pleased to announce Lizzi Bougatsos’ forthcoming solo exhibition SLUT FREAK.
Lizzi Bougatsos’ practice is multi-faceted—it includes and incorporates writing, performance, sculpture, collage and installation. With her characteristic humor and inventiveness, for this exhibition Bougatsos remixes the iconography of consumerism, using advertisements, signage, and the dollar bill itself as source material. From this idealized imagery, the artist creates personalized characters and moments that hint at further narratives.
Bougatsos appropriates advertising strategies to create an exhibition that resists passivity in the role of the observer. Lizzi activates her materials: pneumatic sculptures meant for suburban displays and advertising will take on new meaning; found posters from the streets of today will be reconstituted, bastardizing images that we take for granted; neon lights twist expected phrases into new slogans to interpret.
Yet despite the critique inherent in the subject matter, the exhibition nonetheless maintains an intense positivity and inclusiveness.
“Where’s my science? There is no greater contribution than to be in love with the world n aware in all this suffering and illusion. Dire Straits I tell ya. Just gimme comedy, some type a bitch telling it straight. Instead of switch on the drowsiness, blurred vision, muscle pain, weight obsessions, sore gums, lung/breathing disorders. I’d rather sing outta tune in front of 10,000 people than cook a clambake on the beach. Well, that’s a lie. Our America. Get it together people. We all SLUT FREAKS.”—Lizzi Bougatsos
Bougatsos has recently presented her work in group exhibitions at; MACRO Rome, Kunst Werke Berlin, Swiss Institute NY, Kunsthalle St. Gallen, ICA Philadelphia and P.S.1 NY. She has presented solo / two person exhibitions at The Breeder, Athens (2009), James Fuentes LLC (2007), Reena Spaulings Fine Art (with Kim Gordon, 2005), and American Fine Arts Co. (with Jess Holzworth, 2000). Additionally Bougatsos tours extensively with her two bands Gang Gang Dance and I.U.D.