TROY BROOKS
SHINIGAMI

AUGUST 08 TO 19, 2017
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, August 12, 12 - 4PM

The Red Head Gallery is pleased to present as part of their summer rental exhibitions Shinigami, an exhibition by artist Troy Brooks.

Brooks has exploded on the contemporary art scene this past decade, exhibiting work around the globe in trendsetting galleries such as New York’s Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Arcadia Contemporary, Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles, and London’s prestigious James Freeman Gallery, to name a few. His paintings have been reviewed in some of the most widely read contemporary art magazines in the world, ie; Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose and Tattoo Life.   

The literal translation of the Japanese word Shinigami is “gods of death.” These beings first appeared in 18th century Japanese folklore as a direct influence of the Grim Reaper myth. But whereas the western perception of the Reaper is death personified, the Japanese regard Shinigami as liaisons who expedite the fluid transition of life, sometimes even coaxing people to an early end.

“The women in my paintings are surrogates. After a series of recent deaths, culminating with the passing of my mother in late 2016, the subject of death made itself unavoidable. I’ve used this Japanese folklore of the Shinigami for my own satire of death mythology. The Shinigami have been reimagined here as the courtesans of a 1920’s opium den. They exist in the space between life and death, conducting the transmigration of the human soul.”

- Troy Brooks

To read more about the making of this series click here!