Price | mattomezsko

Price

2019

20" x 16"

Weekly coupons, newspaper (Fishtown Star), asphalt, acrylic, and coal on canvas

Price

Using mostly found materials such as coupons from circulars and community newspapers, Price is a series of artworks that weaves together a wide range of themes. It records patterns of consumption and its effects, and shows how a wide breadth of issues are interrelated. The simple geometric compositions are derived from the golden ratio and outline a view of the contemporary world using intuitive associations rather than precise logic.

The series reimagines materials that are so ubiquitous they are almost invisible. Circulars are distributed weekly and are often seen strewn about the street. Asphalt makes up our physical surroundings and coal powers our daily lives. The materials are visually and conceptually linked through the imagery of organic matter (i.e. produce, meat, flowers) depicted in the art historical banquets, and supermarket ads.

At once hyperlocal and global in scope, the work connects everyday experience to universal themes within a historic continuum.

Price incorporates the New York Times, Metro, Philadelphia Public Record, Philadelphia Weekly, Star News (River Wards), takeout menus, art historical images, circulars from local grocers pharmacies, asphalt, and coal.