Joakim Ojanen, Small Bee Hat, glazed stoneware, 16 x 12 x 12 inches, 40 x 31 x 31 cm
Joakim Ojanen, FML, glazed stoneware, 17 x 13.5 x 13.5 inches, 43 x 34 x 34 cm
Joakim Ojanen, Birthday Boy, glazed stoneware, 11.5 x 6.5 x 7 inches, 29 x 16 x 18 cm
Joakim Ojanen, Loop Nose, glazed stoneware, 9.5 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches, 24 x 16 x 17 cm
Joakim Ojanen, Peace Out, glazed stoneware, 10 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 19 x 19 cm
Joakim Ojanen, Red Face, Beak Loop, glazed stoneware, 12 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches, 31 x 22 x 22 cm
Joakim Ojanen, Red Floppy Nose, glazed stoneware, 14 x 10.5 x 8 inches, 35 x 27 x 20 cm
Joakim Ojanen, Monday Face, glazed stoneware, 17.5 x 12 x 13 inches, 44 x 30 x 33 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, PULL UP YOUR PANTS AND RUN, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, OH TO LIVE ON SPIDER MOUNTAIN, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, HOT CLAP, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, I MISS MY OLD LIFE, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, OH FUCK! HERE COMES REX AGAIN, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, TRUE NORTH, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, FAMOUS RIP, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, PERFECT NUMBER (4), graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, WE DON’T CLEAN!, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, YOUR STORY ISN’T OVER YET, THERE ARE STILL A FEW PAGES LEFT!, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, A TEAR FOR GEOFFREY, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, COOL DUDES, graphite on paper, 10 × 7 in, 25.4 × 17.8 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, CORN WAR, graphite on paper, 10 × 7 in, 25.4 × 17.8 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, I HATE PAINTING, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, THIS GUY KNOWS WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
Ryan Travis Christian, WHEN I WAKE UP AT MORNING, graphite on paper, 7 × 10 in, 17.8 × 25.4 cm
The Hole is proud to announce a two-person exhibition of Swedish artist Joakim Ojanen and Chicago-based artist Ryan Travis Christian. The front of the gallery will feature a selection of fifteen new drawings by Christian and the rear zone nine new ceramic sculptures by Ojanen.
In his first major showing in New York, Ojanen installs a custom bench on which nine ceramic heads are displayed. Though ranging only from 1-2ft in height, these heads are intense and evocative, with fully particularized characters and features. Though not a student of ceramics, Ojanen found he readily could make in three dimensions the comic characters he had been painting and drawing. Their large gourd-like heads might have dog ears, duck bills, black eyes or tiny hats; they share a nervous vibe and a pastel palette.
Ryan Travis Christian exhibits small 10-inch wide graphite on paper drawings that have a vintage animation feel. Their marked-off edges, simple hatched backgrounds and sepia-looking tone suggested early cartoon cells; the characters that appear seem from the “Steamboat Willie” era of animation, though their depictions often contain contemporary elements. Many of the works are about art making and show painters or drawers at work.
Though not traditionally media that are paired together, these small pencil drawings and large ceramic heads make an interesting couple in the exhibition. Attention to characterization and emotion are fine-tuned in both but a self-reflexive awareness of art making makes both these vintage-looking approaches feel fresh.
For more information please email raymond@theholenyc.com.
Blouin Artinfo, “Joakim Ojanen and Ryan Travis Christian at The Hole, New York City”
