I am the son. I am the heir. Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar… the introductory lyrics to The Smiths iconic song, How Soon Is Now? Not only was a major influence to the younger version of Matthias Garcia, the song is often interpreted to themes of loneliness and alienation with an underlining sentiment for longing, love and connection echoing in the chorus, I am Human and I need to be loved, Just like everybody else does. 

For Matthias Garcia, The Smiths, known for a more soft, clean and genderless style of music was resurrected in popular culture as the theme song of the painters favourite guilty pleasure from the 90´s, the hit TV series Charmed. The fantasy plot was based on the narrative of three charming sisters who inherit witchcraft from their ancestry who fight the dark forces of society while retaining an appearance of normality.  The power of three unique female voices pushing back at evil forces shifts the focus to withstand evil in the everyday imposes a greater social awareness and more receptive in the viewer to the binary disposition of power structures at play.  

Nevertheless wind the clock back, The Smiths and their interplay on gloom and light maintained their profound ability to question moral normality while transcending through music the uncanny paradox of what does it mean to be human at a time of significant social and economical transformation underpinned by the political artifice of Thatcherism, privatisation and the purposeful stride to divide society (the birth of neo-liberalism).  The Smiths both sensually and intellectually symbolised a will of candour in their uplifting melodic rhythm juxtaposed by a deeper representation of hopelessness, desperation and vanity pitched in the vocal, while sheer honesty and openness was portrayed in the lyrics. 

Now fast forward to the present geopolitical world of IDF, Trump, and the uncanny valley of human and non-human relations, Matthias Garcia´s world evokes surreal and psychedelic landscapes driven by his own tender contemplation and social consciousness on what does it mean to be human. His virtuous renderings emerge and recede popular references from Hans Christian Andersen´s The Little Mermaid to the uncanny nature of Manga culture. At the core of Matthias Garcia´s practice is a poignant message of empathy and the importance of care, connection and communication. 

Garcia lives and work in Paris. Selected solo exhibitions include Naive Parade at Sebastian Gladstone, Los Angeles  (2024) and Folklore at Galerie Sultana Paris  (2023). Featured in major group show Surréalisme. at La MCBA, Lausanne, Switzerland (2024). This is Matthias Garcia´s first presentation in Australasia. 

Catalogue will be available on request November 10.