Josee Bienvenu Gallery

A stellar gallery in one of those buildings full of galleries in Chelsea. There’s a range of work that’s shown here, from abstract sculpture to photographs, but it’s always got some sort of meaningful social commentary, AND it’s great art. I get so tired of art that bashes you over the head with liberalism, like it’s screaming «LOOK AT ME I’M FEMINIST! I’M ANTI-​WAR! I’M FOR GAY RIGHTS!» at the top of its lungs without realizing that without all its «statements», it’s aesthetically mediocre. What Josee Bienvenu is SO good at, and what I appreciate most about it is its ability to find art that’s really well executed and well thought out as art, but thought-​provoking at the same time.
One of the most powerful exhibits I’ve seen here was one by Juan Manuel Echavarria, a photo series about the nameless ones who died as a consequence of the conflict in Colombia. Their body parts were picked up from the river by nearby communities, and placed in collective tombs, «adopted» by and cared for by the communities at large. A way of recovering humanity within the senseless violence of war?
It doesn’t hurt that they have the best liquor/​wine selection for their openings, too. ;-)