PRIMAL | Pedro Versteeg: Painting Exhibition
PRIMAL | Pedro Versteeg
Painting Exhibition
PRIMAL, the debut exhibition of Pedro Versteeg, a contemporary Urban Colourist based in Lisbon, Portugal. Versteeg’s work combines street art edge with the intellectual nuances of his beaux-arts education. In his debut solo exhibition, the artist showcases a selection of his oeuvre, which focuses on animals as a key subject matter, woven with an urban theme, creating works that evoke a consciousness for what impact humanity can have in the animal kingdom and vice-versa.
An intelligent mix of media creates a blend of textures and vibrant finishes, which create pieces of great aesthetic value. Bold colour applied freely over large surface areas creates a striking visual impact. His fearlessness towards scale renders a simple impression at first glance. This initial impression is then followed by subtleties that can be picked up after a closer look. Dry needle work. Symbols hidden within what looks like freely poured paint. Linking these wild animals with hidden icons of Lisbon, there is a playful dialogue between the wilderness of the subject with the humanity of a city. A strong link to the sea, the epicentre of evolution, and to primates, our very close genetic relatives, brings to mind beginnings, starting points and what is primal in animals, whether they dwell in water or land. In a market saturated by neutrals and minimalism, Versteeg’s work is a breath of fresh air – with intrepid use of colour, and a painterly aesthetic.