Harmony Korine

Some paintings, such as ‘Drift XI’ (2023), focus on close-ups of heads, reflecting the importance of details for the artist. In close to mid-range framing, the infrared camera is able to sensitively detect variations in thermal energy, heat, which is then transformed into a more detailed image. Harnessing the aesthetic potential of infrared, Korine explains ‘the closer you get, the more heat is pulled from the image and the more alive it looks.’ The resulting paintings evoke a visceral reaction in which viewers can visualize and almost feel heat from the body, an immersive experience that Korine describes as ‘close to the idea of being inside of a video game’. The technological workings of the camera mean that, within wide shots, lines are softened and the figures’ features are de-emphasized. The further away from objects, the more impressionistic the image, producing an unearthly quality.

The artist spent time mixing paints to intensify the strength and luminosity of the pigments, seeing how far he could push paint, the film and the idea of energy. With influences ranging from Martin Kippenberger’s playful paintings to William Eggleston’s vibrant photographs, Korine’s eccentric color palette of blues, greens, pinks and oranges—dictated by the infrared imagery—not only heightens the sense of liveliness but also the element of science fiction.

‘REVELATOR MAXIMUS’ (2023) shows a walking figure, its surroundings marked by overwhelming monochromatic hues. Variations in shade are important here, from teal to cobalt, forming an unnatural yet ethereal environment. For the artist, ‘the colors are so full of life […] At the same time the subject matter and the characters are so grim and dystopian so there’s this interesting discourse between the two.’ Compelled to tell a story with his films, Korine’s paintings offer a more immediate encounter with his fantastical world, their subject matter borne from color and energy.

‘AGGRO DR1FT,’ Korine’s new film from which the paintings in Hauser & Wirth’s exhibition are drawn, premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on 1 September 2023.

The London screening of ‘AGGRO DR1FT’ will take place on Friday 10 May at EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) in London, featuring an experiential film screening, live DJ sets by Harmony Korine/EDGLRD & Evian Christ, and audiovisuals Created by EDGLRD.