One of New York graffiti’s pioneering artists, Chris “Daze” Ellis, has moved from the train tunnels to the art galleries, with his latest exhibition, “Orchid Rain on the Underground,” at PPOW Gallery in NYC, causing quite a stir not only among the local art community, but garnering international attention as well.
Over the past four decades, Ellis, who was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has infused his iconic graffiti style into intricate paintings which depict urban life with elegance and authenticity. The PPOW exhibition, which is currently open and continues through May 8, 2021, showcases a collection of works covering a wide range of media, including canvas, metal, and plexiglass.
At the center of this exhibition are Ellis’s beautifully rendered train paintings, known as his “Orchid Rain” series. Utilizing the aesthetic he perfected on the NYC subway cars in the 1970s and 80s, these works capture a revamped graffiti style, laden with intricate details, saturated colors and the abstracted forms of orchids. The rain is represented by cascading lines and shapes that dance around and within the train, creating a sense of movement and an impressive illusion of humidity and wetness.
The uniqueness of Daze’s creations lie in their ability to condense and dramatize urban spaces while recontextualizing elements of street life and public transportation. Further, the orchid, as a recurring motif in these works, symbolizes the artist’s endeavor to infuse beauty and natural presence within an artificially mediated urban setting.
Complementing the series is a selection of new works on paper, as well as reimagined tobacco pipes. The pipes, influenced by his experiences in New York City and around the world, feature detailed painting, familial imagery, and urban patina, highlighting Ellis’s knack for visual storytelling. The paper works, on the other hand, offer a glimpse into the artist’s thought process, presenting an array of ideas and visuals in a raw and intuitive format.
The shifting reception of Ellis’s work, from what was initially seen as vandalism in his early graffiti days, to his transformation into a celebrated contemporary artist, has been mirrored by the evolution of graffiti and street art in global popularity and legitimacy. A theme in itself, this dynamic garners attention on digital platforms worldwide.
“Orchid Rain on the Underground” has received extensive digital coverage, with bloggers, influencers, and art critics from across the globe sharing, reviewing, and appreciating Ellis’s work. Aspect ratios, a popular art blog, hailed it as, “a celebration of beauty found in the grittiness of urban life,” while international art magazine, Metropolis, labeled the series as, “a meticulous interplay of chaos and control.”
Even as Ellis’s work transitions from the illicit to the celebrated, what remains unchanged is the artist’s irrepressible spirit and commitment to his roots. His continued relevance and popularity are a testimony to the idea that art is a versatile-media, capable of encompassing and celebrating a multitude of expressions and experiences.
Even in the highbrow world of gallery exhibitions, Daze’s work remains untamed and strikingly fresh. The “Orchid Rain on the Underground” looks set to reign over the art scene in NYC, capturing the attention of art enthusiasts, new and old.
Visit the PPOW Gallery to witness this breathtaking union of urban hustle and botanical calm, curated by a true New York icon.
Original Source: https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/graffiti/chris-daze-ellis-orchid-rain-on-the-underground-ppow-gallery-nyc/
