D’Stassi Art Presents
Supersonic
Jelly Babies
The Exhibition
D’Stassi Art is pleased to present Supersonic Jelly Babies, a new body of work by London based British artist David King Reuben.
For the artist’s debut solo exhibition at the gallery, a selection of more than 50 uniquely titled mixed media works from the larger series of 148 explores themes of childhood innocence and its subsequent loss.
Reuben reflects upon his strict upbringing in an orthodox Jewish family and his rebellious adolescence, engaging in a physical practice of art making through processes of creation, destruction and transformation.
Childhood and Play
For his new work, the artist has drawn inspiration from the visual aesthetics and sensory delight of childhood play, from the huge, dazzling eyes that adorn many toys to the glossy sheen of plastic and a kaleidoscopic range of candy coloured forms.
The captivating energy behind the eyes in each work bears a resemblance to the artist’s own intensity. As windows to the psyche, the eyes that distinguish each work vibrate with vitality, with an electric aura seemingly emanating from within.
Each Supersonic Jelly Baby combines tactile and visual elements associated with the most sensational toys. The hypnotic appeal of the series echoes the enchantment of an overstimulating toy store, while Reuben’s method remains intuitive, physical and process led.
The Process
Reuben’s approach involves a physically and emotionally demanding sequence of construction, deconstruction and reconstruction.
The process begins with painting on stretched canvas, forming and firing ceramic elements, and affixing those elements to the surface.
Reuben then trades paintbrushes for hammers, blowtorches, fists and other destructive techniques. It is through these acts of artistic violence that the works earn their “supersonic” name.
The final stage is repair. Entirely new outcomes emerge from the fragmented remains of the artist’s own making. A gelatinous coating of clear resin then cures and seals the finished work, preserving the many stages of its creation beneath a slick, almost plastic veneer.
Emotion and Transformation
Each work in Supersonic Jelly Babies contains layers of emotion, experience and action, encompassing the joys and tragedies that mark a life fully lived.
Reuben thrives in a state of excitement, moving between extremes and embracing the full spectrum of experience. Through this body of work, viewers are invited into a world of colour, destruction, repair and renewal.
Opening Night
About David King Reuben
David King Reuben is a London based British contemporary artist known for his highly textured painting style and compelling use of characters and symbols.
His practice spans etching, lithography, painting, drawing and printmaking. His work has been featured in American Vogue, Italian Vogue, Cool Hunting and other international publications.
Born in 1988, Reuben was raised in an orthodox Jewish household with his six siblings in Northwest London. During his teens, he discovered colour and texture as a means of exploring a world beyond the rules and boundaries of his upbringing.
About D’Stassi Art
Since its inception in 2017, D’Stassi Art has established a platform for emerging and established contemporary artists, introducing collectors to work through exhibitions, events and artist led programming.
The gallery aims to create an open and accessible environment for discovering contemporary art, combining a strong curatorial programme with a less traditional approach to the gallery experience.
Based in Shoreditch, London, D’Stassi Art works with artists and collectors internationally while maintaining a focus on storytelling, accessibility and cultural exchange.