Von Lintel Gallery, Los Angeles
October 21 - December 2, 2023
Double Take is a journey into the world of visual duality, where Rudko masterfully presents new works that take the form of diptychs wherein one side is the inverse and opposite of the other; the white spaces in these collages are the backside of the images, showing handwritten notes, dates, and branding of the paper. It is an exhibition defined by its harmonious contradictions, and it deconstructs binary oppositions while simultaneously weaving them together. The vernacular photographs used in these works have already served their original purpose, but Rudko’s work gives them a new life, bridging the past and present.
As the exhibition's title suggests, Rudko encourages viewers to engage in a double-take of their own, challenging the conventional distinctions between abstract and representational art. From a distance, these works appear purely abstract, a composition of mesmerizing shapes and colors. Yet, upon closer examination, the viewer uncovers the subtle, representational elements contained within the vernacular photographs.
In a world where photography seems infinite, with images constantly captured, stored, and shared through technology, Rudko's process calls this continuum into question. By repurposing found photographs, he breathes new life into these forgotten moments, giving them renewed purpose while simultaneously challenging their traditional use.
