Benjamin Cabral: Soliloquy For Past Futures
Los Angeles
Benjamin Cabral: Soliloquy For Past FuturesSteve Turner presents Soliloquy For Past Futures, a solo exhibition by Chicago-based Benjamin Cabral that consists of a room installation reminiscent of a youth theater in which his paintings and sculpture exist as background, actor and audience.
Artworks
Greeter (Alone), 2021
Rhinestones and beads on acrylic painted wood
47 x 19 1/2 inches (119.4 x 49.5 cm)
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Greeter (With Friend), 2021
Rhinestones and beads on acrylic painted wood
45 x 26 inches (114.3 x 66 cm)
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Angel (Memories), 2021
Rhinestones and faux pearls on acrylic painted wood
Dimensions variable, each work ranges from 14 1/2–18 1/2 inches in height and 8–12 inches in width
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Self-Portrait (Looking at Myself, Loving Myself, Hating Myself), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 76.2 cm)
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Three Self Portraits (Dance Break), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
48 x 36 inches (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
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Benjamin Performing as Liza, 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 76.2 cm)
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Performer (Cat Dancer), 2021
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood
38 x 20 inches (96.5 x 50.8 cm)
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Guardian (Flowers), 2020
Rhinestones and epoxy on chrome stanchions with velvet rope
Dimensions variable, each stanchion is 40 x 13 x 13 inches (101.6 x 33 x 33 cm)
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Eight Self Portraits (Midnight Street Lamps), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
60 x 60 inches (152.4 x 152.4 cm)
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Self-Portrait (Performing as Audience), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls, beads, plastic, paper clay and acrylic on plastic human form
55 x 41 x 23 inches (139.7 x 104.1 x 58.4 cm)
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A Ceremonial Gift, 2021
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood
29 x 15 inches (73.7 x 38.1 cm)
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Me And A Puppet (An Optimistic Friend), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
48 x 36 inches (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
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Practical Friend, 2020
Rhinestones, metal candelabrum, faux pearls and beads on epoxy coated foam
25 x 9 x 10 inches (63.5 x 22.9 x 25.4 cm)
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Hopeful Friend, 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on epoxy coated foam
20 x 9 x 9 inches (50.8 x 22.9 x 22.9 cm)
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Me as the Faun, 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls, mirrors and beads on epoxy coated foam
22 1/2 x 9 x 10 inches (57.2 x 22.9 x 25.4 cm)
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New Friends (Never Spring), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
48 x 36 inches (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
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Self-Portrait Performing As Judy, 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
24 x 18 inches (61 x 45.7 cm)
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A Eulogy For the Past, Present (Hopefully Not Future), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls, resin and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
24 x 18 inches (61 x 45.7 cm)
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Trying Not To Laugh (Trying Not To Cry), 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
24 x 18 inches (61 x 45.7 cm)
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We Have No Troubles Here, 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
24 x 18 inches (61 x 45.7 cm)
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A Possible Memory?, 2020
Rhinestones, faux pearls and beads on acrylic painted wood panel
30 x 30 inches (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
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The installation is an extravaganza of color and materials: blue velvet walls, plush purple carpet, a row of theater chairs painted lavender with pink upholstery, brightly colored paintings and sculptures with undulating surfaces of glass beads, rhinestones, mirrors and faux pearls. Central in the works is a youthful, red-haired boy who is either performing, playing, ruminating or remembering. His expression is neither frown nor smile, but has something of both. According to Cabral, he is that boy, constructed from memory and invention. The works are obsessively and meticulously crafted, flamboyant and dazzling with Cabral as Liza, Bette, Judy and a character from Cats. The narrative in any given work is ambiguous, but as a whole, the installation conveys a darkness just below glitz where nostalgia and trauma intersect.
Cabral (born 1993, San Diego) earned a BA at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego (2016) and an MFA at the Art Institute of Chicago (2019). He has had solo exhibitions with Lauren Powell at SPRING/BREAK, Los Angeles and SPRING/BREAK, New York (2020). This is his first exhibition with Steve Turner.
Courtesy of the artist and Steve Turner, Los Angeles
more to explore:
Japanese Paintings from a London Collection Auction: 21 Jan - 04 Feb, 2021
Exhibition: 21 Jan - 4 Feb 2021
