Dr. Lakra’s fourth solo show at Kate MacGarry consists of artist’s books displayed on old furniture, wall drawings and two framed collections of ephemera. The artist has used junk furniture to display a wide range books made over the last twenty years. These include: a Japanese book of erotica with figures tattooed in ink by the artist, sketchbooks, sourcebooks for tattoos, collaged antique books and reproductions of the artist’s entire collection of rare and unusual record covers.
On the tallest wall of the gallery is a four metre high painting of an osprey snatching a fish. Opposite this intricate painting is a series of grotesque silhouettes. Adjacent to the wall paintings are framed collections of ephemera containing objects such as: plastic dolls, old magazines, bones, knives, toad skins and medicine bottles. These objects comprise a lexicon of the artist’s imagery and relate directly to the content of the books, paintings, drawings and tattoos. These works combine together to form a single, unique installation.
Dr. Lakra’s work draws on the gothic tradition of Northern European artists such as Bruegel, Bosch and Cranach, the absurdist tradition of artists such as James Ensor and Goya, and legendary Mexican artists such as José Posada. His work is being shown in conversation with Posada (1852-1913) in a large scale exhibition Mexican Demons and Dancing Skeletons at the Hostelbro Kunstmuseum in Denmark until January 2013.
Born in 1972, the artist lives and works in Oaxaca, Mexico and has exhibited internationally over the past ten years. Recent and upcoming exhibitions include the Small Collections Room at Nottingham Contemporary from 13 November 2012 – 6 January 2013, Dr Lakra, The Drawing Center, New York 2011, Dr Lakra, ICA Boston, 2010 and Dr Lakra, kurimanzutto, Mexico City, 2009.
