In the world of artist Joseph Yaeger's latest exhibition, "Polygrapher," honesty is a luxury that few can afford. The paintings, which blend elements of film stills and found images with abstract expressionism, are like fragments of raw memory - raw, unprocessed, and sometimes disturbing.
Yaeger's own upbringing in the US was decidedly unremarkable, but his artistic process is anything but ordinary. Working exclusively with watercolour over gesso, he creates paintings that look deceptively polished from a distance, only to reveal their true nature when viewed up close. Cracks, pockmarks, and other imperfections are all part of the surface texture, as if the painting has been through some kind of violent process.
The people depicted in Yaeger's work are taken straight from film stills, often with faces obscured by masks or behind screens. It's a voyeuristic game, where the viewer is invited to question what's real and what's not - was that face held with force or passion? Are those eyes hiding something? The paintings are like a polygraph test, revealing secrets we'd rather keep hidden.
In his own words, Yaeger describes himself as "born with melancholy." His work is a reflection of this introspection, where the lines between confession and concealment blur. He's not looking for easy answers; instead, he's interested in exploring the complexities of human emotion.
The exhibition also includes numerous overtly Catholic works, like "Clean Windows Kill Birds," which features a woman's face seen through the screen of a confessional booth. This is part of Yaeger's ongoing exploration of his faith, where the boundaries between good and evil are constantly shifting.
Ultimately, Yaeger's work is about our need to leave a mark, to make a presence in the world. Even as he grapples with the imperfections and uncertainties of human experience, he finds beauty in those flaws - the bare edges of unframed canvases, thick with layers of encrusted gesso and pigment.
The exhibition "Polygrapher" at Modern Art is an intense, immersive experience that will leave you questioning what's real and what's not. And it's precisely this uncertainty that makes Yaeger's work so compelling - a world where honesty is a luxury, and the truth is always just out of reach.
Yaeger's own upbringing in the US was decidedly unremarkable, but his artistic process is anything but ordinary. Working exclusively with watercolour over gesso, he creates paintings that look deceptively polished from a distance, only to reveal their true nature when viewed up close. Cracks, pockmarks, and other imperfections are all part of the surface texture, as if the painting has been through some kind of violent process.
The people depicted in Yaeger's work are taken straight from film stills, often with faces obscured by masks or behind screens. It's a voyeuristic game, where the viewer is invited to question what's real and what's not - was that face held with force or passion? Are those eyes hiding something? The paintings are like a polygraph test, revealing secrets we'd rather keep hidden.
In his own words, Yaeger describes himself as "born with melancholy." His work is a reflection of this introspection, where the lines between confession and concealment blur. He's not looking for easy answers; instead, he's interested in exploring the complexities of human emotion.
The exhibition also includes numerous overtly Catholic works, like "Clean Windows Kill Birds," which features a woman's face seen through the screen of a confessional booth. This is part of Yaeger's ongoing exploration of his faith, where the boundaries between good and evil are constantly shifting.
Ultimately, Yaeger's work is about our need to leave a mark, to make a presence in the world. Even as he grapples with the imperfections and uncertainties of human experience, he finds beauty in those flaws - the bare edges of unframed canvases, thick with layers of encrusted gesso and pigment.
The exhibition "Polygrapher" at Modern Art is an intense, immersive experience that will leave you questioning what's real and what's not. And it's precisely this uncertainty that makes Yaeger's work so compelling - a world where honesty is a luxury, and the truth is always just out of reach.
. The exhibition "Polygrapher" isn't really about the artist's Catholic faith or his personal melancholy. I mean, sure, he explores those themes in some pieces, but it's not like he's trying to convert us all to Catholicism or anything 
.
. And it's not just about his own experiences; he's trying to get us to think critically about our own perceptions and biases.
.
.
i think that's where the polygraph test metaphor comes in - it's like yaeger's paintin a portrait of humanity's imperfections & flaws. can't say i agree w/ all his religiouous themes, but to each their own, right? 
The way Yaeger blends reality with abstraction is genius. I mean, who needs easy answers when you can have complex emotions? 
His use of watercolour over gesso creates this beautiful, textured surface that's like a puzzle waiting to be solved. And the faces, oh man... they're like windows into someone else's soul. You can't help but wonder what's really going on behind those masks. 
It's like he's asking us to question our own perceptions of truth and beauty. I think that's what makes his work so captivating - it's not just about creating something pretty, it's about exploring the human condition in all its messy glory. 
.
. Like, what's up with all these masks and screens? It's like he's trying to hide something from us... or maybe show us that we're not looking closely enough 
.
. And yeah, some of those Catholic works are pretty intense 
. But I guess that's what makes art so cool - we can interpret it however we want.
. Like, who needs perfect when you can have rough edges? 
It's like he's saying that life isn't always pretty and neat, but that's what makes it worth living, right? 
i also appreciate how he explores the complexities of human emotion, it's like he's giving us permission to be messy and imperfect 
. But at the same time, Yaeger's not shying away from it – he's embracing the complexity and messiness of human experience.
. And I think that's what makes his "Polygrapher" exhibition so compelling – it's an immersive experience that leaves you feeling unsettled, but also maybe just a little bit more honest with yourself?
. Can't wait to see the rest of his work, he's definitely making some waves in the art world 
...
but at the same time i love how they make you question what's real and what's not - it's like trying to figure out what's hidden behind those masks or screens on screen 
. his use of watercolour over gesso is so cool, and the imperfections add a human touch to the whole thing 
. maybe it's just me, but i feel like he's tapping into something deeper with these pieces - like we're all searching for truth and connection in our own ways 
.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to explore the complexities of human emotion through art? 
#ArtLover #PolygrapherExhibition #WatercolourWonders #EmotionalIntelligence
...
The way he uses watercolour over gesso to create these super polished-looking paintings that just crack apart at the seams is genius 