Hernan Bas: The Conceptualists

‘Over the past two or three years I’ve begun to notice an odd theme emerging among the paintings in the studio. I realised that what the characters were engaging in could easily pass as being a visualisation of the work of a conceptual artist.’ — Hernan Bas

‘In the past, my characters seemed to occupy an often described limbo, but it feels to me now that they have entered into a phase of self-acceptance.’

‘Their unusual interests aren’t in the shadows anymore, and they appear to be comfortable in their curious self-made worlds.’

‘The humour I hope these works convey is intentional… I don’t consider my series of paintings to be a parody, but I have enjoyed the liberty of making portraits of artists who, while taking themselves seriously, might concede they’re being quite “clever”.’

Hernan Bas, born in Miami, Florida in 1978, lives and works in Miami. Solo exhibitions of his work have been presented at Space K, Seoul, Korea; CAC Málaga, Spain; Kunstverein Hannover, Germany; the Rubell Museum, Miami, USA and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA. A collection display of works by the artist was recently on view at the Rubell Museum.

His work has also been shown as part of significant exhibitions at the Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul; the Bass Museum of Art, Miami, USA; Busan Biennale, Korea; Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, Germany; the Whitney Biennial; and the Venice Biennale as part of The Collectors, conceived by Elmgreen & Dragset for the Nordic and Danish Pavilions in 2009.

Works by the artist are included in the collections of MoMA; the Whitney Museum of American Art; the Brooklyn Museum of Art; the Detroit Institute of Arts; the Hirshhorn; MOCA Los Angeles; SFMoMA; MFA Houston; the Rubell Family Collection, among others.