Karma is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by Julian Schnabel. Using found flags as a blank canvas, Schnabel applies ink, gesso and spray paint in gestural strokes over the existing flag design. Schnabel subverts the inherent language of flags as representative symbols of various social structures such as nationality, culture, religion, language, infrastructure, even corporation.

Instead, the found object quality of these works draws on histories and practices in painting such as abstract minimalism of the 60s and 70s, quietly positioning an apparent similarity to these real world objects which are rudimentary tools for identification. Moreover, the physically expressive, rapid gestures explore the idiosyncrasies of Schnabel’s personal vision and artistic practice.
Schnabel uses the potential of abstract painting and turns these pictures into a narrative that invites new interpretations of image and space.

On the occasion of the exhibition, Karma will publish a comprehensive monograph, titled Draw A Family — the title of one of Schnabel’s first paintings — which embraces the past forty years of Schnabel’s influential practice and underlining his impact and guidance on painting today.