NEW EXHIBITION by Johnny Romeo • WHATEVER! • 28 November - 10 December.
CLOSING PARTY TONIGHT at the gallery. Join us @ 6:30PM RSVP online now - https://harveygalleries.com.au/exhibition/johnny-romeo-whatever-exhibition-2024/
“As an avid fan of grunge music and 90s alternative culture, there are few words that capture my imagination like ‘Whatever’. You can see the word feature prominently everywhere from the feisty dialogue of classic Gen X rom coms like ‘Reality Bites’ and ‘Clueless’, to the feedback-soaked nihilism of Nirvana and the rabblerousing rock’n’roll of Oasis. There’s a certain power to the word that’s always fascinated me – how it’s used to express disillusionment and frustration, excitement and possibility in equal measure, how it can resolve problems and dissolve tension in one single word.
With my latest series, I wanted to explore the spectrum of ‘whatever’ in all its complexities as an era-defining phrase that continues to be a major part of today’s lingua franca. More specifically, I wanted my paintings to speak to the notion of ‘whatever’ as an ideal and a lifestyle that embraces the potential of being whatever you want to be and doing whatever you need to do to live an authentic, meaningful life. A kindred spirit to expressions such as Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ or ‘you only live once’, ‘whatever’ is an invitation to believe in the impossible, to say ‘whatever!’ to the obstacles that stand in your way, and to truly live in the here and now.
I’ve consciously brought together a diverse cast of Pop icons, historical figures, thrill-seeking animals and superheroes, all from very different walks of life, to highlight how we can all be empowered by ‘whatever’ in our own special ways. By rising above the limitations set on us by society and our own insecurities, we each have the power to face whatever challenges await us and radically transform our lives for the better”.
#art #popart #harveygalleries #johnnyromeo