“The Ties That Bind” is a serious solo exhibition that includes probably the most influential artists in the USA: Jim Shaw. His idiosyncratic imagery is infused with references from common American tradition. In current a long time, his physique of labor has more and more highlighted the rising rigidity between conservative and progressive ideologies. “The Ties That Bind” brings to gentle the core motifs of Shaw’s observe, presenting his newest work alongside a choice of earlier works.

Because the late Seventies, Jim Shaw has been creating a posh and thrilling physique of labor that features images, drawings, work, sculptures, installations, movies, and musical performances. Standard cultural codecs akin to comics, Hollywood movies and caricatures represent a necessary a part of his work, as do faith, folks beliefs, leisure tradition and newbie arts. His profound crucial exploration of the development of values and beliefs is complemented by an extremely wealthy visible imagery.

The exhibition “The Ties That Bind” delves into an inventive journey that, within the final 5 a long time, has not solely mirrored the shifts within the American cultural and political panorama but additionally appears to anticipate them. Jim Shaw, like no different, probes the constructions of the varied worth methods that form society by immersing himself within the realms of politics, the Hollywood business, newbie artwork, and his personal goals. For the very first time, Shaw’s work from the final decade is showcased on a grand scale in his inaugural solo exhibition in Belgium. The internationally acclaimed cult artist is actively collaborating within the exhibition and is concurrently creating a brand new large-scale audio-visual work particularly for the M HKA.

“‘The Ties That Bind’ presents itself as a fictional however tangible surroundings, as a hallucination wherein the presence of pillars of Western worth methods factors to our personal considering, but additionally to the area that may emerge for a renegotiation of those dominant values.”
—Anne-Claire Schmitz, senior curator

The exhibition presents drawings, work and pictures by Jim Shaw alongside giant immersive installations that spotlight the artist’s central themes. Hairstyles and wigs, male figures (together with self-portraits) or family home equipment: these are themes to which Shaw returns virtually obsessively all through his profession.
The Wig Museum (2017), for instance, offered on the M HKA, is showcased as a museum inside a museum, wherein a group of wigs worn by historic figures of energy—together with French aristocrats and British judges—is elegantly displayed. As well as, a choice of over 145 Research Drawings (2013–23) are offered that present an summary of the artist’s psychological panorama of the final decade. The M HKA can also be supporting Shaw within the improvement of The Digital Monster and 13 Ghosts (2024), a brand new large-scale audio-visual manufacturing.

“The Ties That Bind” immersers the viewer into Jim Shaw’s allegorical world, the place custom and innovation, popular culture and politics, and social criticism and humour are intricately interwoven.

Curated by
Anne-Claire Schmitz

at M HKA, Antwerp
till Might 19, 2024