ROBIN KID – KINGDOM OF ENDS, PARIS
In his second solo exhibition in Paris, Robin Kid is returning to the Grenier-Saint-Lazare space with his latest series titled ‘Kingdom of Ends’. The show, hosted by Templon, promises an immersive experience featuring various artistic mediums such as painting, sculpture, video, and installation, all centred around a towering two-story high mobile.
Through the evocative and nostalgic imagery of mass-produced objects that symbolise our shared childhood, Kid delves into the exploration of personal and cultural memories. His intention is to evoke a range of emotions, including feelings of uncertainty, as well as the innocence and hopeful dreams that are often associated with childhood and teenage years.
Kid’s approach involves combining stainless steel panels and aluminium sculptures with oil paintings in a playful and toy-like manner. By doing so, he creates an idealised representation of our collective desires, while also addressing the themes of power and control. The title of the series, “Kingdom of Ends”, is borrowed from Kant’s ethical principle and serves as a conceptual framework for the exploration of our collective longing for security and the fear that many may never attain it in today’s world.
Influenced by artists like Robert Rauschenberg and Jim Dine, Kid’s works in the “Kingdom of Ends” series defy categorisation as either purely paintings or sculptures. They invade the viewer’s space and demand attention, simultaneously acting as eye-catching advertisements and foreboding symbols. The artworks provoke a strong sense of nostalgia, almost like an ache, as they depict a time and place from which we are perpetually exiled.
Robin Kid, born in 1991, is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist of Dutch descent. His works draw inspiration from various sources such as social and political imagery, religious symbolism, fantasy elements, and personal childhood memories. Through his ambitious and enigmatic narratives, Kid aims to challenge the polarised world of the 21st century by weaving together elements from advertising, the Internet, the entertainment industry, and his own recollections.
In summary, Robin Kid’s exploration of personal and cultural memories through mass-produced foundational imagery elicits a range of emotions. By tapping into our shared experiences of childhood, Kid’s artworks evoke feelings of uncertainty, hope, and nostalgia.
Through his unique combination of mediums and references to power and control, Kid creates thought-provoking narratives that question the complexities of our contemporary world.
PARIS I 28 RUE DU GRENIER-SAINT-LAZARE
SEPTEMBER 2 – OCTOBER 21, 2023
