Jeff Koons: Popeye Series

Jeff Koons Popeye Series The Serpentine Gallery London        ArtBitch

Don’t you just want to smack Jeff Koons in the face! Looking like an aging tennis player with his wholesome smile and sports commentator suit Jeff stands in front of one of his paintings grinning and pulling bicep poses in homage to his latest offerings at the Serpentine Gallery in London titled, “Popeye Series”

This work is all stunningly manufactured in his New York studio, sweatshop style by
A team of talented craftsmen and women. The show is Koon’s first serious London one-man show at a public gallery. Does it work…of course it does. Jeff is a master of the wow factor. The bulk of the work is 1970’s Photorealism ‘with a twist’ Instead of mimicking banal reality, Koons adds his Daliesque humour to paintings with titles like Elvis. Actually, there is no Elvis just retro Penthouse glam models and an inflatable Lobster. The 3D works, mostly sculptures of kiddie inflatables are also masterfully executed in polychromed aluminium. 
 Despite the gimmicky, slick trickery presented. Help…. I couldn’t hate this exhibition. AB July 2009