Ostretsov combines the old style comic book imagery that inspired Roy Lichtenstein with lewd language, crude brushstrokes and spray paint. The Moscow-born artist has attracted international attention, including the likes of the Saatchi Gallery in London. The "Dead Souls" exhibition at Triumph consists almost entirely of new work.
One of his paintings is of a man, bearing a striking resemblance to actor David Hasselhoff, walking away from a building with a thoughtful expression. Blobs of multicolored spray paint disrupt the otherwise ordered image. Two thought bubbles on either side of his face do not correspond with what is in the picture. One says: "You can't even go to the bath house these days," the other says "Gays are pussy. [Full of pus]"
"He explores the contrast between street culture and high society," said Maria Baibakova, the curator of the exhibition. "He looks with faux discomfort at attitudes such as homophobia, racism and the threat of women in power."
Another picture is of a purple monster devouring the world, while a crying vixen is shooting rockets at the other planets. A naked woman is floating away from the debris, her face contorted in agony.
"We have known him for a long time, and finally the opportunity to collaborate with him on a full-scale project came up," said Dmitri Khankin, co-owner of the Triumph Gallery. "We have had a very serious season this year, his paintings have a sense of irony and most importantly humor. Everyone needs more humor."
The second room is called "Women Can't Drive." The centerpiece is a burnt-out car, which stands below a delicate chandelier. There are two life-size metal sculptures of men in scarves beside it.
Also in this room are Ostretsov's paintings of female superheroes destroying cars that hang in ornate gold frames. Baibakova said the paintings are about females castrating the male ego.
"Gold frames epitomize everything Ostretsov hates about the bourgeoisie," said Baibakova. "It doesn't matter what is in the middle of the frame, just as long as it is there [gold] it is no longer art."
The Saatchi Gallery bought one of his works recently, and there are rumors of an exhibition there in the not too distant future. Baibakova attributes part of his popularity to the accessibility of comic book images. "They are familiar to us as children," she said. "Because we understand the graphics, when we look at them in another context we can make our own judgments."
"Dead Souls" runs thru Oct. 24 at Triumph Gallery, located at 40 Novokuznetskaya Ulitsa. M. Paveletskaya. Tel. 660-1156.
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