Art Hag

Metro Pictures currently has on view Small Brain Big Stomach, an exhibition featuring wall drawings and wood sculptures by Swiss-born/New York-based artist, Olaf Breuning. Breuning created childlike, pencil drawings while in "concentrated episodes of self-imposed isolation" (from exhibit's press release) drawing alone in a room aboard the Queen Mary II for five days. The artist transferred these small drawings into large-scale versions using "broad black lines painted directly on the white walls" of the gallery. Though the images look innocent and naive, they ponder philosophical questions about life and make snarky commentary regarding human nature. A few of the wall drawings include an outline of a giant martini glass filled with the words "Half Empty Half Full"; a crude outline of a human figure with the phrase "I Want More And More" written inside it; and six comical figures talking on cell phones with vacant expressions on their faces and mouths agape, each containing a letter to spell out the word "Idiots".

Breuning's sculptures are "essentially three-dimensional drawings made of wooden blocks painted black." One shows the word "Life" riding in a roller coaster car about to plunge down a steep drop that leads to nowhere. Another shows a rough outline of a head with "ME" spelled out repeatedly inside it with the inclusion of one tiny "YOU." Another titled The Loser (2009) shows chess pieces on a small table with two stools on either side of it—one is toppled over. And The Big Question (2009) is composed of a tall, folding ladder placed beneath a big, bold question mark.

Oddly, in a third gallery, Breuning presents "color studies," a series of photo works "based on paint and primary colors." While I like the abstract c-prints, this series feels incompatible with the other two galleries' stark, minimal, black and white pieces. Breuning's fun, charming and cynical wall drawings and sculptures are definitely worth a look. See metropicturesgallery.com and check out the artist's website at olafbreuning.com. Through December 5th.

Focus, Focus, Focus, 2009