Taymour Grahne Projects is pleased to present Saudade, a solo exhibition by New York based artist James Bartolacci, opening on January 21 between 5-7pm at the Notting Hill 2 space (52 Lonsdale Road).

Saudade is a Portuguese word that connotes an emotional state of intense longing for something that does not necessarily still exist. The term encapsulates bittersweet nostalgia; the emotional experience of recalling past feelings of vitality which now results in a sense of disillusionment.

In James Bartolacci’s latest body of work, the artist engages with the concept of Saudade. Exploring their own identity in relation to queer nightlife and clubbing as they develop into their mid-30’s. Bartolacci still finds great resonance in queer nightlife, however, there has been a shift as more of their contemporaries stay home and a new generation of crowds start to frequent these spaces. The intrinsic joys once experienced are now being replaced with more extrinsic motivations: pressures to look a certain way, and experience quantified only by its digital realisation.

There are strong autobiographical and fantasy elements weaved together in Saudade, with the paintings depicting parties as formative, potent celebrations. These occasions are idealized in ways they might have never been, which is in perhaps longing for how they deserve to be remembered. The idea of a sublime night is underlined by a sense of melancholy due to its rarity. This juxtaposition is one that Bartolacci plays with in their paintings; glamor and beauty positioned against disappointment and apathy. Fantasy is often something that can never truly be achieved, but the possibilities and blissful nature, offers Bartolacci deep catharsis and provides the essential building blocks of their practice.

The longing for closeness is something experienced in the hedonism of a night’s party, where light and mood heighten perception. There is also the longing for Bartolacci’s connection to parties of past and the poignant acceptance of the passing of time. Reminiscence has always been essential in Bartolacci’s practice and as Kevin Brazil writes for Frieze, ‘Like the dancer holding the phone, Bartolacci always appears to anticipate nostalgia, which they evoke most powerfully’.

James Bartolacci (b. 1988, Easton, PA) received an MFA in painting and printmaking from the Yale School of Art and a BA in art history from Brandeis University. Their work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions at Galerie Perrotin, New York; Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles; and Taymour Grahne Projects in London. Their work has been reviewed in Frieze, and California Art Review among others. Bartolacci lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.