NKSIN: Revival

LOS ANGELES, CA | albertz benda is pleased to present Japanese-Filipino artist NKSIN’s first solo exhibition with the gallery entitled REVIVAL. On view from June 9 – July 8, 2023, the artist will present a suite of new paintings that offer a sardonic examination of the human experience through the lens of the artist’s signature greyscale figures.  

The works in this exhibition are dominated by single, large-scale cartoon-like characters that are brought to life through references to pop culture and nostalgic imagery. Rendered with an airbrush, the artist’s subjects feature the smooth textures and iconic styles of American animation from the 1990s. NKSIN’s subjects showcase a minimalist sophistication and meticulous color gradation, emphasizing the artist’s ability to construct a bridge between the digital and the physical.

In REVIVAL, NKSIN’s monochromatic paintings tackle universal emotions — desire, envy, joy, and grief — in the age of information overload. Bombarded with an overwhelming amount of news through social media and the internet at large, NKSIN and his figures reject the adversarial effects of technology to restore the capacity to reflect and function effectively.  Favoring internal reflection and exuding a sense of serenity, these figures plug their ears with headphones and defiantly shut their eyes and mouths. These works offer a message of hope and resilience, countering the despair endemic to our modern moment. 

Striving to create a more peaceful environment, the artist paints a silent world. He says, “We don't want to see or hear such negative information anymore. We want silence.”

“In a world where we are constantly exposed to super-charged imagery, NKSIN’s paintings provide a moment of pause. Through an understated, flat airbrushed style NKSIN’s work represents complex narration and social commentary via unique characters,” notes Thorsten Albertz, Founding Partner of albertz benda.