Saturated

Dale Erispe’s interest in man-made features that define the urban landscape and his fascination with the interaction of human and non-human elements in a given environment brings him to the ubiquitous signs of consumerism seen on our streets and structures: outdoor forms of advertisements such as posters, banners, and billboards. In this solo exhibition, Erispe depicts street scenes in which massive advertising media dominate skylines, overpowering even the most imposing architecture and dwarfing human presence. Another set of images portray panoramic vistas featuring a hodgepodge of shapes and colors, creating a visual cacophony that engulfs crowds and disorients visions.

Titled Saturated, this collection of new works imply the unhealthy overload of advertisements we encounter in our everyday life in the city, an excess that transforms them into a meaningless flux of codes and information to the busy pedestrian. The artist expresses such tendency by reducing the layout of texts and images into mere shapes rendered in flat, solid colors. While some may view the abundance of advertisements as indicators of a bustling economy—a tribute to the spirit of competition in a capitalist society—the works suggest that this sight may also be a symptom of urban decay. Layer by layer, side by side, the disorderly assortment of forms competing to stand out could appear as an eyesore, and hence pose a challenge to the formation of harmonious, pleasant environments necessary for the well-being of citizens.

Curated by Ruel Caasi