PEP is proud to present Jordan Awan’s It’s Not That I Want To Live, It’s That I Don’t Want To Die.

“My cardinal subjects are taken from two sources: the ‘tall tales’ of the early 20th century and the ‘hippie’ movement of the 1960s. These two cultural archetypes, the ‘big man’ and the hippie, ultimately represent two paradoxical visions of the American dream. The seeming polarity of the subjects are wed through the context of their settings, which are based on an idealized vision of the American landscape that both subjects share: big skies, wide open spaces, rolling hills, purple mountains, etc.

The purpose of this exploration of American archetypes is to create a new living mythology. The pictures I make envision myth not as an esoteric form of storytelling or moralizing fables, but as a way of being, a mode of subjectivity.”

Mr. Awan’s new work looks past the summer-of-love and to the darker side of “hippies.” The vibrant landscapes still exist, but the people within them show the wear of their lived life. Jordan Awan was born in Arlington, Virginia, in 1984. An all-around cool guy, he received a BFA from Pratt Institute in 2007. Mr. Awan has shown in many group shows, both nationally and internationally, including the critically acclaimed Downright at PEP. Jordan’s work can be seen in numerous publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times as well as on many items for sale at Fishes Eddy. This is Jordan’s first solo show. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.