News Release: October 17, 2018
Exposed: The Visceral Body in Murray Laufer’s More Than Skin Deep
Brampton, ON (October 18, 2018): Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in downtown Brampton, invites you to attend a media preview of the new exhibition Murray Laufer: More Than Skin Deep.
Join Curator Sharona Adamowicz-Clements by appointment only on Friday, October 19 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for your exclusive tour. Artist will on-site from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Please RSVP by Thursday, October 18 at 6 p.m.
This retrospective exhibition charts the creative development of Toronto-based artist Murray Laufer who has long been preoccupied with the central idea of life and death. Two main bodies of work emerge: portraiture, and the human and animal forms. Laufer examines the living experience revealing who we are on the inside. Exploring character impressions in the first, and the flawed and aging body in the second work.
"Laufer is as interested in the abject underlayer of the skin, even the sliced carcass, as he is in the psychological state of being revealed through gesture or expression. It is what can be found above and below the surface, the beautiful and the grotesque, that encompass the total living experience of his subjects." Curator, Sharona Adamowicz-Clements
Laufer’s propensity for the extravagant and the excessive, and even the horrific finds inspiration in the works of master painters Rembrandt and Chaim Soutine. To them, he looked for subject matter, reinterpreting images of carcasses, large birds and portraits. In their work, he recognized the temporality of life and of the flesh, and that change and mortality were not only inevitable but a part of life itself.
“For me, the prints, the drawings, the carcasses, the man with thin skin stretched over his dying frame, the plaster heads in a void shrouded in translucent air, speak of life, beauty and the inevitable rest.” Murray Laufer, 2010
Murray Laufer: More Than Skin Deep opens to the public on Saturday, October 20, 2018 and runs until January 13, 2019.
PAMA is a place to explore and learn about Peel Region’s culture and heritage, and to converse, question and tell stories to help make new and fascinating connections to the surrounding community. Throughout the year, PAMA offers a variety of workshops and programs for all ages: students, families, adults and seniors. Operated by the Region of Peel, PAMA is located at 9 Wellington St. E.in Brampton. Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn more.
Media Contacts
Erin Fernandes
Marketing Co-ordinator
PAMA
905-791-4055, ext. 7596
Lisa Cox
Communications Specialist
Region of Peel
905-791-7800, ext. 8232
About Peel Region
In 2024, Peel Region marks its 50th anniversary. Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe, and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 200,000 businesses in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. Peel's services touch the lives of residents every day. For more information explore peelregion.ca and follow us on X @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
On December 13, 2023, the Ontario government announced that Peel Region will not be dissolved, and that Bill 112 legislation will be updated to reflect service delivery in Peel. Services for residents and businesses will continue without interruption. For updates and more information, visit Peel's transition page.
