NUCLEON: Jan Kalab

RHODES is delighted to welcome back Czech artist Jan Kalab for his second solo show.

His spectacular 2020 exhibition ‘SOLAR’ took us on a journey of colour and shape, inspired by the sun, sky, and gradients of dusk. For his new exhibition ‘NUCLEON’, Kalab brings us back into his clean and abstract world. For his new exhibition he has been inspired by the beauty of subatomic particles and nuclear fusion, breaking down the world we understand into smaller and smaller parts or dividing them to create a tremendous energy.

In this series of works, we see Kalab play with his own style. The canvases envelope over each other; rounded edges and curves seeming to glide into one another, much like being viewed under a microscope. The colours are inspired by nuclear fission, the huge amounts of energy which is created when an atom is split. The works appear hot, fiery and molten.

“The more we learn about the smallest particles, the more we break down our reality into tiny parts, the more it seems that our world is made up of something that is not even tangible.”

With this new exhibition, we see Kalab pushing the boundaries of what a painting on canvas can be. Playing with not only shapes, but depths and textures, his works leaning into the experimental theme beautifully. He has created a new style of works which haven’t been seen before, presented as the ‘Nucleon’ series. Created by carving wooden canvases and layering individually painted circles on top, Kalab has created something between painting and sculpture; a flat surface which appears to be moving not only away from the wall, but within itself.

Alongside these original exhibition works, Rhodes Editions will also be offering an exclusive new print edition released to coincide with the exhibition.

Email info@rhodescontemporaryart.com to register your interest.

About Jan Kalab

As a graffiti pioneer in his native Czech Republic, Jan Kalab made his name in the late 90s. As his work developed, he found a new way to push his own limits and challenge himself by making 3-D Graffiti. Under the name of Point, he sculpted huge abstract letters he chose to put in the streets and on the walls. This was another form of graffiti, in daylight, and without a spray, but truthful to the spirit of competition and innovation of the urban scene. In turn, these sculptures lead him to experiment with more abstract sculptural forms, a path he’s been exploring through canvas from 2007, using acrylic painting and brushes.