In much of his past work, Zokosky has employed a realist style in which, by means of a startling juxtoposition of historical or cultural opposites, fundamental elements of human life are revealed in all their complexity and apparent contradiction. But if these seemingly antagonistic interpretations of the human situation are exaggerated, says Zokosky, it is not that we might rest in their opposition, but to hint at their resolution.
In the current selection of work at Louis Stern Fine Arts, Zokosky continues to explore his theme of opposition and resolution in a series of clown paintings. A dangerous enterprise because of the “kitschy” baggage carried by the subject, Zokosky successfully exploits the attraction/repulsion response that so many of us have to clowns. Each work is uniquely executed, with varying degrees of detail and finish, and often with what Zokosky calls “a visceral tortured feel” to the impasto. Zokosky has said of the clowns:
"I think they can show a human spirit encased in an exaggerated form. The fact that clowns can be amusing, clever, expressive and agile while they’re also grotesque, cruel, anonymous, and idiotic seems to reflect the human condition. Clown paintings can, of course, fail. It might be hard to find a genre of lower repute today. There is an element of taboo and cliché due to the fashions of the art world and the abundance of truly awful clown paintings."
These paintings are not actual portraits, not painted from life. Nonetheless, there is an overwhelming sense of individuality here, an individuality which denies the masking function of the clown costume. These clowns are not hidden, in fact they are not really made-up Instead, the exaggerated expressions and costumes seem to reflect the living personage of each clown in a very intimate way. And our sense of being met by an individual is further enhanced by the resemblance the works have to Northern Baroque portraiture. Zokosky’s clowns are not on stage for us, they are not performers, but real people whose unusual appearance serves to place their interior life on the surface, for our consideration.
Born in California in 1957, Zokosky received his MFA from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles in 1981. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout California, including shows at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena; Santa Monica College, Santa Monica; California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA; San Jacinto College Art Gallery, San Jacinto, CA; and many others. His work can be found in many public and private collections.
Peter Zokosky: Clown will be on display during gallery hours, May 2 through June 20, 1998. There will be an opening reception in conjunction with the other West Hollywood area galleries on Saturday evening, May 2, 1998 from 6:00-9:00pm.