Birnam Wood Galleries is pleased to present David Datuna: Emblem and Image, an exhibition of the artist's recent works opening on October 4th and running through November 3rd. After ten years in East Hampton, this will be the gallery's first exhibition at its new space on 24th Street in New York City. An opening reception for the artist will be held on the evening of October 4th from 6-8:30 pm.

This timely exhibition running throughout the final month of the election season, will include several works from Datuna's distinctive flag series in which the Stars and Stripes are distilled to a dialogue on American culture and identity. The show will also feature a portrait of President Barack Obama that traces the arc of African-American political and social experience over 150 years. The portrait, done in collaboration with artist Alex G. Cao, is comprised of tiny images of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

Originally from the Republic of Georgia, Datuna now lives and works in New York. He offers us a distinct viewpoint on national identity: a view that reflects foreign roots but is dominated by an embrace of his adopted American homeland. In some ways, it is the perspective of a visitor or keen-eyed guest in a long tradition of discerning foreign observers of America that goes back to de Toqueville.

Like Jasper Johns and other Pop artists before him, Datuna re-imagines our most potent national symbols as art and artifact. His work is a melting pot made visual.  Rather than hewing to literal translation of shape and color, some of Datuna's flag constructions are done in shades of white or black, or as virtual pools on the ground.  

David Datuna's work has been exhibited extensively, including shows in Europe, Russia, China and the United States. This is the sixth solo exhibition of his work and the second solo show in New York. In February 2012, his portrait of supermodel Natalia Vodianova led the sales at a benefit auction in Moscow for the Naked Heart Foundation.

Birnam Wood Galleries. 514 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011.Tel: (212) 242-2270

Email: info@birnamwoodart.com. Website: www.birnamwoodart.com
Hours:  Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm or by appointment.