Devon DeJardin, the much talked about artist from Los Angeles recognized for his eye-catching and introspective creations, is teaming up with AllRightsReserved. This collaboration showcases monumental sculptures that embody DeJardin’s creative sentiment and his take on concepts of protection, guidance, and growth. Sculpted from painted bronze, these pieces stand at dimensions of H280 x W215 x D180mm and are exclusive to a limited series of 20.
In different contexts, the Guardian is a subject that can evoke a lot of meaning. An entity that protects, nurtures or safeguards is the first thing that comes to mind. It is an ambivalent subject, a safe space, but also, it can be interpreted as a force that challenges the individual to foster new skills, loss that teaches resilience, and a crisis that reveals inner strength. As a subject that is apparent in many cultures across the globe, something that surpasses a single, grounding definition in the symbolic or physical sense, this is a very potent subject to explore and gain inspiration from. As such, it is a topic that has preoccupied the artistic practices of the visual artist Devon DeJardin for the past five years.
Devon DeJardin is a self-taught multimedia artist, mostly working in the fields of painting and sculpture. For the creative process behind his work, he always uses the history of art and art in general as a sort of apparatus through which he navigates the world around him, and tries to position himself inside of it. The abstraction of emotions, evident in the works of modernist and avant-garde artists such as Picasso, Nevelson, Duchamp, and Krasner, is something that has been a key point of inspiration for DeJardin, who through his own art tries to go deep into and explore the complexities of the human condition and lived experiences.
The influence of these artists is also stylistic, as Devon’s work often resembles that of cubists, with architectural and organic geometrical shapes serving as building blocks for visual narratives. The question of spiritual traditions and myths has also been a topic that has left its mark on the artist and his work, with the Giants series, presented at a solo show in New York in 2022, dealing with the preconceived notions of spirituality and myth from which he constructs his own narratives about entities and forces that protect, guide, and challenge individuals to grow.
His latest body of work approaching the above-mentioned topic is the “Guardians Alastor” series of sculptures, set apart by being a collaborative project with the AllRightsReserved creative brand, and its DDT store. The series consists of twenty limited edition painted bronze figures, with each figure standing to be the physical representation of the concept of a guardian. In that sense, the choice of bronze as a material that is durable, that has throughout the history of art been a symbol of permanence, and we could say that guards the ideas cast in it, takes part in the artists’ exploration of the theme, giving it a material embodiment.
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Being done in collaboration with ARR, and their DDT store, which provides a platform for artists and their work inside the world of art commerce, the sculptures will be provided the space and engagement that the artist stresses, “The idea of having a “Guardian” figure placed in locations all across the globe, during a time of ongoing world turbulence, I hope provides some type of comfort and protection to its host.“
‘Alastor’ is a term with multiple meanings and references, depending on the context in which it is used. In ancient Greek mythology, Alastor was a deity or spirit of vengeance and retribution. He was often associated with avenging wrongs and exacting divine punishment. The name Alastor can refer to any avenging spirit or deity that punishes moral transgressions. In some occult traditions and demonology, Alastor is sometimes referred to as a demon. He is depicted as an executioner or an avenger, especially of wrongful deeds and evil. In these contexts, Alastor is often associated with punishment and retribution. Playing with the extensive symbolic of the term, and putting it in the context of the Guardian, and also in the context of contemporary art and sculpture, DeJardin once again collages his own narrative about the presence and meaning of guardians, inviting the viewers to join him and reflect on their personal relationship with the subject.
“Guardians Alastor” is on sale from February 21st, at 7pm PST, with delivery scheduled for June 2024. You can express your interest now at DDTStore.com. The draw for only twenty pieces closes on February 25th at 12am EST – enter the draw now.
Keep up with Devon’s work @devondejardin
