Moran Bondaroff, formerly OHWOW gallery, presents Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Was. Named after Kenny Rogers’ hit song about psychedelic experience, van Woert adopts this title to reference the subtext of previous work; work centered around artificial substance and an intoxicated landscape. Beyond hinting at altered states, the title refers to his new works, which assess the human condition from an observant, sober vantage. With this quote in mind, van Woert considered the roots of American civilization: “When the white man came he had the bible and we had the land. They gave us the bible and told us to close our eyes and pray. When we opened our eyes we had the bible and they had the land.” Appropriating cigar store Indian figures, the artist carved historic white faces over the existing Native American caricature visages – murderous faces, such as Andrew Jackson and Buffalo Bill, graft the decorative stereotype. The works also reference the 1985 bombing of the house where communal black liberation group MOVE held their office, through various silkscreens burned with the news headlines. Just Dropped In To See What Condition will be on view until October 10, 2015 at Moran Bondaroff, 937, N. La Cienega, Los Angeles.
