In just a few days, the Long Museum in Shanghai’s West Bund district will open its doors to a landmark exhibition that promises to be a significant moment in contemporary art. "Magic Realism," the first museum survey in Asia by the renowned Los Angeles-based painter Lari Pittman, is set to captivate audiences with over 40 paintings and drawings spanning the last twelve years of his prolific career. Curated by the distinguished LA-based curator Rochelle Steiner, this exhibition offers an unprecedented look at Pittman’s vibrant and intricate visual language, marking a key cultural event for art enthusiasts in the region.
Portrait of Lari Pittman. Photograph: Evan Bedford.
Lari Pittman, celebrated as one of the most influential painters of his generation, is known for his densely layered compositions that blend diverse techniques and a rich tapestry of symbols. His works delve into complex themes such as regeneration, identity, and the human condition, all while maintaining a distinctive optimism that resonates deeply with modern life. This survey will bring together six major series from Pittman’s oeuvre, including Thought-Forms (2012), Nocturnes (2015), and the more recent Sparkling City With Egg Monuments (2023), which will be exhibited together for the first time.
Reflecting on his journey leading up to this exhibition, Pittman emphasizes the deliberate thematic focus of "Magic Realism." “Given that this is just the second big exhibition I’ve had in Asia, I thought it would be compelling to concentrate on the last 10 to 12 years of my work,” Pittman shares. “This allows the audience to engage with my more recent explorations without having to navigate a long historical narrative. I wanted to present a body of work that reflects a type of optimism, projecting into the future despite the complexities of our times.”
"Magic Realism" invites viewers to explore the intersections of reality and the fantastical through Pittman’s unique lens. His works, which often feature recurring motifs like eggs, bells, and animals, challenge traditional narratives and offer a feminist reimagining of urban life. The egg, in particular, serves as a powerful symbol of potential and renewal, embedded within nightscapes, cityscapes, and natural settings that reflect the exuberance of life. “I’ve always found the idea of magic realism compelling, particularly in its insistence that magical moments can emerge in the most mundane or daily ways,” Pittman explains. “This concept is deeply rooted in my work, where I draw imagery from a wide range of sources, including popular culture, design, and the history of painting, to create something that resonates on multiple levels.”
LARI PITTMAN, Sparkling City With Egg Monuments #3, 2023, acrylic and lacquer spray on gessoed canvas over wood panel, 96 x 80 x 2 inches. © Lari Pittman. Courtesy Lehmann Maupin, New York and Seoul.
LARI PITTMAN, Vanitas #2 (Aeternum), 2021, cel-vinyl and lacquer spray over gessoed canvas on titanium and wood panel, 56 x 74 inches. © Lari Pittman. Courtesy Lehmann Maupin, New York and Seoul.
The exhibition’s title, Magic Realism, is a fitting homage to the literary genre Pittman admires, one that insists on the coexistence of the magical and the mundane. It is an apt descriptor for an artist whose work transforms the everyday into something extraordinary. Pittman’s paintings are known for their social and gregarious nature, inviting viewers into a visual conversation that is as engaging as it is challenging. “The paintings are immediately attempting to converse with the audience,” Pittman notes. “The imagery is very social, very gregarious. It’s important to me that the work makes the first visual invitation to the viewer, encouraging them to engage.”
Curator Rochelle Steiner, who has had a distinguished career across major institutions in Los Angeles, London, and New York, has carefully selected works that highlight key themes in Pittman’s work. She notes, “This exhibition is an opportunity to present the more recent work—paintings and drawings from approximately the last decade—in Shanghai. What unites these bodies of work is a sense of renewal and regeneration, which felt particularly important to highlight, especially in a post-pandemic world.” Steiner’s thoughtful curation ensures that visitors will not only see Pittman’s work but also experience the evolution of his ideas, from the intricate Thought-Forms to the optimistic Sparkling City With Egg Monuments.
For Pittman, this exhibition is an exciting venture into new territory. With his first Asian solo exhibition taking place in Seoul in 2022, Magic Realism in Shanghai marks only his second major show on the continent. Pittman is eager to see how his work resonates with Chinese audiences, noting that while his art often draws from a deeply personal and cultural context, it also has a universal quality that he hopes will connect with viewers across different cultures. “I can’t forecast exactly how the work will be received, but I’m always excited to hear what people think,” Pittman says. “It’s new territory for me, but I’m really interested in meeting artists and hearing how they see the work, what communicates to them, and what they receive from it.”
Magic Realism at the Long Museum presents a dialogue between the East and West, between tradition and innovation, and between the artist and his audience. It stands as a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and to foster a global exchange of ideas. As Pittman himself suggests, his work is an invitation: “The painting is actually immediately attempting to converse with the audience. It’s very socialized. It’s very gregarious. So it’s always been important to me to make the first invitation visually.” In Magic Realism, that invitation is extended to all who enter the Long Museum, inviting them to experience the magic in the real.
Magic Realism
• Exhibition Dates: August 17, 2024 – October 20, 2024
• Location: Long Museum (West Bund), 3398 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District, Shanghai
• More Information:http://www.thelongmuseum.org/en/exhibition-369/detail-1871.html
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