ANDREW SALGADO

In Salgado’s paintings, noise and quiescence coexist. The abundance of colours, mediums, motifs, and the multitude of references never overwhelm, but seem to produce a poetic peacefulness. In each piece, the artist explores the relationship between the body and its surroundings incorporating dynamic, performative movement. Upon each viewing, unexpected narratives emerge, awakening the imagination. In recent years, Salgado has begun incorporating more abstract, symbolic, and compositional components into his paintings. By continually challenging his own practice, his work has undergone a significant evolution over the past decade.

For this show, Salgado draws from his long-time fascination with Greek mythology. Referencing Homer’s Odyssey, the exhibition title is taken from the story of the lotus eaters who inhabit a remote island and primarily eat lotus fruit, which acts as a narcotic. Those who eat the fruit sleep in peace but lose the will to continue their journey. The practice of Pharmacopoeia—a word derived from ancient Greek which refers to the harvesting of ingredients from nature to make healing medicine—also intrigues Salgado. Pharmacopeia is the title of British artist Derek Jarman’s collection of writings on his garden that he grew and nurtured as an escape from his battle with HIV. Jarman’s legacy has greatly influenced Salgado’s practice these past few years, sparking an interest in the idea of escape and the remedies that bring tranquillity to the body and mind.

The characters unveiled in each piece, including the artist himself in Lotus Eater, all exist somewhere along this cross-section of fantasy, myth, and reality. Surrounded by alluring flowers, dazzling fruits, and fluttering birds and butterflies, the works lead us into a dream-like state. Yet it is juxtaposed with an indescribable freneticism and joy, invoking a full consciousness of reality. Salgado takes us on a journey in search of cures for the ails of contemporary life weighed down with the unrelenting anxieties brought on by the demand to constantly be productive and adhere to the conformity of daily life. As apparent in several of his paintings where various objects are precariously stacked, his work affirms that balance can be found in any situation.

For Salgado, he not only draws upon myths, literature, music, and personal stories, but also deeply respects and engages with the tradition of figurative painting—both historic and contemporary—ranging anywhere from Matisse, Gauguin, and Bacon to Richard Diebenkorn and Peter Doig. The affluence of references, together with the artist’s profound introspection and sense of humour, lead each work to conjure emotions and memories which otherwise tend to be overlooked. We hope you will take this opportunity to experience Andrew Salgado’s works at MAKI Gallery / Omotesando, Tokyo for his debut exhibition in Asia and witness his blossoming practice.

Press Release: Written by Haruna Takeda