Kayfabe

Curated By BBQLA

David Altmejd, Pierce Brosnan, Brad Eberhard, Sasha Fishman, Eun-Ha Paek, Luke Rogers, Mia Scarpa and Paul Anthony Smith

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 22nd, 6 - 9pm

Exhibition Dates: July 22nd - August 26th

kay· fabe

1: the tacit agreement between professional wrestlers and their fans to pretend that overtly staged wrestling events, stories, characters, etc., are genuine.

GGLA is pleased to present Kayfabe, a group exhibition curated by the artist collective BBQLA, featuring works by David Altmejd, Pierce Brosnan, Brad Eberhard, Sasha Fishman, Eun-Ha Paek, Luke Rogers, Mia Scarpa and Paul Anthony Smith. Centering the show around the concept of “Kayfabe”, a term taken from professional wrestling that describes the ways in which both audience and performer are equally invested in the notion of staged events as real life, the curated exhibition plays with the idea of both the artist and material as illusion and allusion as well as the viewers complicity in this whole dynamic. In a sense the entire history of representational art could be seen as a kind of Kayfabe, whether it’s cave paintings built from symbols tacitly understood by maker and viewer to represent real animals or people, or the landscape painting acting as a window to a different space or time yet composed of shallow marks on a tightly woven piece of fabric. As our technological capacities and moral depravities deepen, the blurring of what is real and what isn’t becomes harder and harder to discern. Whether it’s video deepfake technology, AI generated artwork created from ridiculous prompts or a tragic stabbing at an art fair chalked up by onlookers to be an elaborate performative ruse, we stand at a moment when perhaps all we need is some good old Kayfabe.

Mia Scarpa, Uncle Billy, 2023, Oil, Acrylic, Photo Transfer on Burlap, 18 x 28in

Paul Anthony Smith, Untitled DD , 2022, Oil Stick on Inkjet Print, 15.75 x 11 in inquiries

David Altmejd, Shaman, 2023, Epoxy Clay, Epoxy Gel, Expanding Foam, Glass Eyes, Acrylic Paint, Quartz Crystals, Human Hair, Glass Rhinestones, Pencil, Steel, Concrete, and Resin, 34.5 x 16.5 x 16.5 in

Sasha Fishman, Gush, 2022, Kiln Cast Glass, 15 x 9 x 9 in inquiries

Brad Eberhard, Roky Two, 2020, Oil on Canvas, 47 x 36 in inquiries

Mia Scarpa , Fake Stolen Mosaic, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 14 x 14 in inquiries

Pierce Brosnan, Untitled, 2023, Ink on paper, 7 x 8.5 in inquiries

Eun-Ha Paek, Banana Bust, 2023, Glazed Stoneware, 9.5 x 7.5 x 6 in inquiries

Brad Eberhard, Lung Dog, 2023, Glazed Stoneware, 11 x 3.5 x 3.75 in inquiries

Luke Rogers, Toast (for M.Lupertz), 2023, Oil on Canvas, 55 x 48 x 1 in inquiries

Sasha Fishman, Aqua Trough, 2022, Kiln Cast Glass, Mica, 8 x 6.5 x 5 in inquiries

Mia Scarpa, Nothin’ Song, 2023, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 16 in inquiries

Mia Scarpa, That’s Nothing, 2023, Acrylic on Canvas, 8 x 10in

Ken Resnick: Thank you Gorilla Monsoon. Now ladies and gentlemen, many events that occur here in the World Wrestling Federation have fans the world over talking about it. But I don’t think anyone had wrestling fans more disgusted than what you, Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, did to Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat, from behind, on Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts: Don’t you realize up until Steamboat they were all open hand material? Just little boys to play with .

KN: Jake Roberts, let me ask you this: I agree with you, Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat was the toughest competition you faced here in the World Wrestling Federation. But that was the moment you chose to come up from behind, before the match started. Perhaps you were afraid of meeting any real competition face-to-face?

JSR: You’re saying that I’m afraid?

KN: I’m asking the question.

JSR: You know something, sometimes it’s better to remain quiet and be thoughtful than it is to speak up and erase all doubt. And Steamboat, you made a mistake by turning your back on me because I don’t play no games. I don’t have to play games. I don’t have to watch games because I can control this sport with one move:

KN, JSR (in unison): DDT.

JSN: You’ve seen what Steamboat looks like: black eyes, everything, head swollen up, looks like the Elephant Man. That’s a small taste.

KN: Because you administered it to him on the concrete floor.

JSN: It doesn’t matter. The bottom line in this sport is winners and losers. I never have been a loser. Because winning is the only things that fills the pockets, and that’s what this sport’s about. Do you understand that?

KN: I understand. But I understand many men can make the same claim, but none of them have had to resort to behind-the-back sneak attacks. Administering holds like the DDT on a man on a concrete floor.

JSR: We all do things differently. I make my own rules. Because it’s much easier that way. Now as far as Damien goes, that’s just part of the intimidation thing that I do. Because if you’re thinking about the snake then you’re not thinking about me. And when you don’t think about me, well, why don’t we ask Ricky Steamboat?

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 22nd, 6 - 9pm