LeBasse Projects presents a solo exhibition by multi-disciplinary artist Alexandros Vasmoulakis. The exhibition will feature muralist and installation artist Vasmoulakis' new series, entitled Figures, comprised of compelling figural work partly inspired by the tradition of portraiture. Vasmoulakis’ paintings contain many layers—physically, in terms of their thick impasto and textural buildup of paint, and also metaphorically. At the outset, the figures are smiling, a nod to the traditional purpose of portraiture as a showcase of one’s ideal or idealized comportment. However, the grinning and laughing expressions are menacingly exaggerated and recall the distorted visages of tortured souls in Francis Bacon’s deeply psychological portraits and self-portraits. In the case of Vasmoulakis’ personas, the turmoil does not come from an inner psyche, but from the outside influences of contemporary society, consumer culture and the media machine as the figures vapidly laugh, pose and posture. Alexandros Vasmoulakis Figures will be on view until February 23, 2013 at Le Basse Projects, 6023 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA