Hey! Follow me! It’s happy hour time! at Galería Fran Reus

Artists: Jordy Kerwick, Marria Pratts, Albert Pinya, Mike Okay, Bel Fullana, Philip Gerald

Exhibition title: Hey! Follow me! It’s happy hour time!

Venue: Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca, Spain

Date: December 17, 2020 – March 12, 2021

Photography: Grimalt de Blanch / all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca

During a historical time when we can’t meet, party and make any noise, where hygiene and order prevails over chaos and fun, “Hey! Follow me! It’s Happy Hour Time!” wants to change the situation for a while.
Bel Fullana, Jordy Kerwick, Albert Pinya, Mike Okay, Marria Pratts and Philip Gerald introduces us into a toddler, uninterested, absurd and thug exposition ambient. This collective reimagines the “happy hour” concept –a pub/restaurant promotion where determinates drinks are cheaper to gain clients- as a happy and fresh place designed for fun.
We could say that these pieces of art are not judging the reality, but they are observing it from a childish and ironic perspective. In other words, like a child draws or paints what is he/she sees just to express the feelings. Their natural optimism adds to the nuance.
As if the paintings were the guests, these pieces from six artists of different nationalities are reunited to celebrate everything and nothing at the same time. They try to ease this actual situation using naïve strokes, imperfect shapes, bright colors and themes that may result in the absurd.
Each guest adds their own personality: Bel Fullana (Majorca, 1985) pushes the envelope of 21st century aesthetics: trap, reggaeton, “posing” on social media. She represents girls with fishnet stockings, bikinis, tattoos and fire. These characters are erotically posing in front of a camera as if it is the artist’s stroke. They are portrayed sarcastically flaunting today’s stereotypes.
Marria Prats (Barcelona, 1988) shows us what we can find observing the cities, streets and society. Her works constantly remark today’s dilemmas and incoherencies interpreting from a positive point of view, searching for beauty and optimism using the insignificant details of our life.
Albert Pinya (Palma, 1985) uses naïve strokes to reflect the relationships between society and the environment. His work constantly reveals pop’s culture doing compositions full of horror vacui turning his work into a communicably element. He rejects “l’art pour l’art” claiming the expressive role of art. His ironical and intentionally naive aesthetic are his footprint.
Philip Gerald (Ireland, 1992) claims that which is useless and just playful through plain-fluorescents colors, excessive pithy faces and ambiguous figures created from an inchoate image editing program. His work creates a visual dilemma where the digital world is relocated older mechanisms. Carefree scenes, daring characters and bright colors are all part of his style.

Hey! Follow me! It’s happy hour time!, 2020, exhibition view, Galería Fran Reus, Mallorca

MARRIA PRATTS, Amb la meva clica + 1 cop de boira I (2020) Acrylic, wax, oil stick, airbrush and spray on canvas. 150 x 100 cm; MARRIA PRATTS, Amb la meva clica + 1 cop de boira II (2020) Acrylic, wax, oil stick, airbrush and spray on canvas. 150 x 100 cm