REVIEW: Bubblegum Society

As promised I went to the opening reception for Ben Harben's exhibition of Reality TV celebrity portraits called Bubblegum Society. And, yes, it's true, the collection of 8" x 10" pictures are constructed from chewed bubblegum. No paint, no extra pigment, just a layer of a two part epoxy which protects the surface of the image while giving it a rather wet-looking "just chewed" appearance.

Despite the sweet medium the colors initially seem somewhat sour: teal, pink, pale yellow and low intensity blue and purple. The application and texture reminded me of encaustic with an eerie translucent quality. The subjects of the portraits run the gamut from vapid to grotesque. Paris Hilton with her rat-dog in tow and William Hung, gazing with glazed eyes toward his 13.7 minutes of fame.

The technique is novel and, for the most part executed very well. The subjects are, as stated, fleeting and insipid - they're portraits of Reality TV "stars" after all. The theme, which I would label as "discardable celebrity" is downright disturbing. The synergy is nothing short of amazing. It's been a long time since I've seen an exhibition of new work that so deftly combines theory and practice.

As objects to look at, this collection is quite satisfying. Pictures constructed of chewed gum do, however, run the risk of being labeled as gimmicky and contrived. It is the combination of medium, execution and idea that allows these works to take off and, hopefully avoid marginalization. Where does the artist go from here and how can the artist's works avoid suffering the same fate as that of his subjects? The medium and technique certainly offer many possibilities, the theme can surely be explored further, and the combination of elements work very well together. So, what about subject? More celebrity portraits?

While inspecting Harben's current offering I kept thinking about the idea of a still-life in bubblegum, perhaps "Arrangement with Cell Phone, Walkman and Pager." The possibility of using the genre's allegorical angle with this medium is definitely intriguing. There is already a sense of story in the way the images relate to the materials used, and the social and cultural context from which they've been snatched. And it is there that I see the passing of one of my essential tests for the quality of "good art": it makes me think and it makes me want to create.

Bubblegum Society - works by Ben Harben is on display at Teller's Gallery and Bar in Columbia, Missouri through the month of August.