Johnny Romeo
NEW CLEAR DAYS
New Paintings
Internationally acclaimed Australian Pop painter Johnny Romeo makes his thrilling return to Linton & Kay Gallery in Perth with his latest series, NEW CLEAR DAYS. Australia’s King of Pop has crafted some of his most philosophical and audaciously Pop works to date as he explores a world caught between the isolation of Covid regulations and lockdowns, and the cautious promise of society re-opening as vaccines are rolled out. Bursting with life-affirming colour explosions, dark Absurdist humour and bombastic visual mashups that jam everything from hip hop and punk rock to Star Wars, the series holds up a neon-drenched mirror to our current collective experience, as reflected through Romeo’s inimitable Kitsch Pop style. NEW CLEAR DAYS is a vivacious and thought-provoking body of work that reflects on the tension between hope and hopelessness, and celebrates the powers of resilience and optimism to help us survive the global pandemic.
NEW CLEAR DAYS takes its name from the British New Wave band The Vapors’ 1980 album of the same name. Rife with clever wordplay, ‘New Clear Days’ is a cheeky pun on the phrase ‘Nuclear Days’, conjuring up contradictory images of sun-kissed celebrations alongside the latent threat of nuclear war. The title’s humorous but unsettling balance between cheeriness and existential angst perfectly captures our shared anxiety of living in a world amidst the Covid 19 pandemic. On the one hand, the rollout of vaccines has given us hope that we can soon push beyond the Covid bubble. However, the emergence of newer, more virulent strains has also left us with the fear that Corona, and the isolating lock downs that come with it, are here to stay for a while yet. Throughout the series, Johnny Romeo grapples with a key philosophical question: ‘what does it take to live in a world filled with so much uncertainty, under the shadow of something that affects our very existence?’
For Romeo, the answer lies in resilience and re-invention. From self-made Tiger Kings to pilot felines unafraid of flying headfirst into the unknown, NEW CLEAR DAYS is populated with uncompromising figures all determined to survive in a world turned upside down. The series drips with an irrepressible punk rock attitude and rock’n’roll swagger that speaks to the indomitable spirit of people who persevere and forge their own paths despite the challenges of the world around them. Rife with references to punk legends, iconic daredevils and gangster gals, the paintings are a celebration of overcoming adversity, of taking life by the horns and becoming the master of your own destiny. In many ways, NEW CLEAR DAYS is a tribute to the everyday heroes of the Corona pandemic, who have braved the frontlines or juggled the demands of homeschooling and working from home, adapting their lives in ways both banal and extraordinary in pursuit of a new dawn.
Central to resilience is the power of positivity, and the ability to keep our spirits up even when the world is a terrifying and uncertain place under the grips of a pandemic. Romeo injects a healthy dose of Poptimism into his latest body of work as he pushes his exuberant colour arrangements and knack for bright, eye-catching Pop imagery to electrifying new heights. Vibrant bursts of sugary, Technicolour hues lend the paintings an invigorating liveliness that energizes the audience to embrace life and always look on the bright side, especially during life’s darkest moments. In the neon-drenched environs of Romeo’s NEW CLEAR DAYS, optimism gives us the confidence to overcome trauma and reinvent, to find home when we are lost, and most impressively, to love with the unconditional Southern candor of Dolly Parton.
With NEW CLEAR DAYS, Australia’s leading culture jammer has delivered an empowering statement on the importance of self-belief and reinventing yourself to adapt to life’s challenges. Brimming with exhilarating imagery and intense colour arrangements, Johnny Romeo’s latest series is a clarion call for resilience and positivity as we overcome the existential dread of nuclear days in pursuit of the brightness of New Clear Days.
Opening reception: Thursday 19th August 2021 | 6-8pm @ Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco Gallery / 299 Railway Road (Corner Nicholson Rd) Subiaco WA | +61 8 9388 3300
Any enquires regarding Johnny Romeo’s NEW CLEAR DAYS can be made directly through Linton & Kay Galleries (subiaco@lintonandkay.com.au) or by calling the gallery on +61 8 9388 3300 (Subiaco) / +61 8 6465 4314 (West Perth)
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RSVP for Opening Night is essential.
RSVP to: subiaco@lintonandkay.com.au
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Exhibition Dates: 14th August – 5th September 2021.
August 12, 2021