Praz-Delavallade Los Angeles presents two new exhibitions – “Fear of Collapse,” a solo exhibition by Sepand Danesh (b. 1984, Tehran, Iran), and Two “Proposals Toward the Formation of a New Art School” by  Dan Levenson. Both shows opened on August 6, 2022, and will run through September 10, 2022. 

Sepand Danesh, Collapse, acrylic on canvas, 2022

“Fear of Collapse” is Danesh’s first exhibition at Praz-Delavallade and his first in the US. In his practice, Danesh uses drawing, painting and trompe-l’oeil techniques to provoke questions of the human condition. Danesh references his personal experiences and memories, and relates them to the grander memory of Human history to create short and unique narratives. In Fear of Collapse, each of Danesh’s paintings contain a character composed from cube-like shapes which he places in a corner, without a floor or a ceiling, to bring awareness to the condition of being trapped and wanting to escape.

“Proposals Toward the Formation of a New Art School” by  Dan Levenson will also open on August 6, 2022. The imaginary State Art Academy, Zürich (SKZ), forms the basis of Dan Levenson’s practice as an artist. Through performance, video, installation, objects and paintings, Levenson expounds on the curriculum and philosophy of an institution that, although never existed, reflects on art institutions both past and present.

The first proposal, “SKZ Kindergarten Maquette,” takes the form of a miniature kindergarten classroom, itself an artwork, that is based on live interactive performances Levenson exhibited with children aged 2-9 in 2019 and 2020. The maquette contains miniature scale versions of the components of the live performances: flat-pack modernist children’s easels and mannequins wearing painting tunics. The mirrored walls of the classroom maquette suggest infinite expansion. Kindergarteners are gently introduced to the same strict formalist principles which form the basis of the advanced graduate program. An accompanying video documents the live performances.

On view: August 6, 2022 – September 10, 2022

What: New Exhibitions, Sepand Danesh, Dan Levenson
Where: Praz-Delavallade Los Angeles, 6150 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90048
Website: https://www.praz-delavallade.com/