ERIC JOYNER “It’s a Jungle Out There”

  • Type: event
  • Location: Corey Helford Gallery, 8522 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, California, 90232, US
  • Starts: Jan 21 2012 at 7:00PM
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ERIC JOYNER
“It’s a Jungle Out There”

Opening Reception Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 7‑10pm
On View January 21 - February 8, 2012

Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
T: 310-287-2340
www.coreyhelfordgallery.com

On Saturday, January 21, 2012, Corey Helford Gallery will present “It’s a Jungle Out There,” Eric Joyner’s fourth solo exhibition at the gallery, and his wildest to date.

In “It’s a Jungle Out There,” Joyner’s robots trade their domestic lives featured in “Donut Logic”—his 2010 exhibition at Corey Helford Gallery—for fantastical adventures in rough-and-tumble jungles. “I use the robots to reflect my adventures, real and imagined, in Thailand. It runs the gamut from fighting, encountering animals and hiking to having fun,” Joyner says.

The theme of the exhibition was inspired by Joyner’s recent trip to Thailand. “The northern jungles of Thailand were so inspiring that I wanted to create a show that reflects some of the things that I experienced there,” Joyner says. “There were beautiful trees, birds, mountains, elephants, tigers, butterflies, flowers and monkeys. Jungle paintings are easier said than done though—there are so many leaves, branches and foliage to paint. It really tested my patience.”

“It’s a Jungle Out There” will feature 18 pop-surrealism paintings of robots interacting with jungle animals such as elephants, monkeys and snakes. For example, in “All Wrapped Up,” a 48-by-36-inch oil painting, an anaconda coils around the body of a pink metallic robot, who holds a donut just out of reach.

Joyner realizes that the jungle is a strange locale for robots, but relishes in creating new environments for his electronic muses. “The best thing about creating these new worlds is that it takes me out of this one,” Joyner says. “I like discovering new places and things and this is one way for me to do it.”

In addition to new robots and animals, “It’s a Jungle Out There” will also include Ultraman, a character from the 1960s Japanese television series.

The opening reception for “It’s a Jungle Out There” takes place Saturday, January 21 at Corey Helford Gallery. The reception is open to the public, and the exhibition will be on view through February 8, 2012.