The Pokémon series has been widely popular since its first release in 1995, and has since expanded to include electronic games, cartoons, comics, and card games. In 1998, the series made its way to the United States and became a cherished childhood memory for many people around the world. For American artist Katherine Bernhardt, Pokémon has been a boundless source of creative inspiration. Recently, she showcased a multitude of Pokémon at the David Zwirner Gallery, injecting vibrant energy into the space.
In this exhibition, Bernhardt continues her exploration of contemporary pop culture phenomena and focuses on depicting the fascinating world of “Pokémon”. The artist first showcased the “Ditto” character from “Pokémon” in her solo exhibition “Why is There a Mushroom Growing in My Bathroom?” at the Chona Gallery London space back in 2022. At that time, the adorable pinkish-purple, spherical figure was very popular.
The new works presented this time are highly distinctive in their composition, showcasing different fairy images on each “card” that are rendered with Bernhardt’s emotionally rich and unique style and iconic elements, making them full of playfulness. What’s even more interesting is that the artist has written the individual fairy’s special abilities and combat data on each artwork, distinguishing their roles in the game.
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- Japanese popular artist Amano Takeru arrives, classic “Venus” transformed into a giant three-dimensional sculpture and digital collection!
To create these works, the artist first paints on a vertical canvas using spray paint, and then lays it flat on the ground and applies diluted acrylic paint. The artist works on multiple paintings at the same time, jumping back and forth between them, introducing spontaneous elements into each piece through rhythmic movements.
Bernhardt attempts to “capture them all” by sampling the “attributes” of eighteen different Pokémon, allowing players to categorize characters based on their power and performance. In “Surfing Pikachu” (2023), the bright yellow sprite depicted in the title suddenly appears on the screen, originally created by artist Atsuko Nishida. The blue-green, squinting “Mr. Mime” (2021) opens its mouth wide against a bright pink background. When they come together, they evoke everyone’s childhood memories. Are all you Pokémon trainers ready to collect your Pokémon at the gallery?
Exhibition Details
Date: From now until August 5, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Location: 5th-6th Floor, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central
Image source and learn more: David Zwirner Gallery
