“Got Snacks?” Screenprint and Acrylic Paint on Wood Panel, 16 x 20 in
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Artist Dan Alvarado discusses his solo exhibition PANDORA’S SWIPE, a satirical take on the temptation, overstimulation, and hypersexualization of online dating apps. Opening on September 5 and running through September 22 at Bushwick, Brooklyn’s Botanica Grove, Alvarado’s paintings, composed of digitally altered and collaged dating profiles, become a landscape of portraits across the ether.
Complimentary bright, colorful emojis accentuate the sexual stimulation and dopamine that dating profiles promote, and comment on how human society interacts and flirts with one another. To create a feeling of overstimulation, the profile images and emojis are screen-printed in vibrant colors before being hand-painted for their final touches, resulting in portraits with a more playful take on profiles users would see on dating apps.
Significant events in the first half of this decade, such as the COVID pandemic and the correlation of ramped-up usage of dating apps during this time, inspired Alvarado to explore creating works on this particular topic. With dating app companies like Hinge, Tinder, and even Facebook promoting the idea that you can find love, many individuals are persuaded to take the leap and rely on these digital platforms to find their partners or significant others.
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