Philip Colbert: “The Battle for Lobsteropolis” at Saatchi Gallery

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Philip Colbert's A.I. Battle Scene and A.I. Battle Scene II, both 2023

Saatchi Gallery is proud to present “The Battle for Lobsteropolis,” a compelling new exhibition by the acclaimed contemporary artist Philip Colbert. Renowned for his hyperpop history paintings, Colbert perpetuates his distinctive series of battle scenes where a lobster character contends with artificial intelligence in the retro-futuristic realm of Lobsteropolis.

This solo exhibition showcases Colbert’s iconic lobster character as it traverses through different epochs and engages in conflicts with AI in creatively reimagined historical battle scenes. The focal point of the exhibition consists of two grand AI-assisted paintings in which Colbert’s lobster confronts the tech world. Through these works, Colbert invokes the magnificence of ancient battle themes and Renaissance-era compositions, wherein heroic struggles and artistic legacies intersect in an apocalyptic, retro-futuristic landscape. Colbert’s universe is one where the continuum of art history and digital innovation remains in constant flux, mirroring the ongoing tension between historical context and technological advancement.

A standout piece within this epic narrative is “After Battle of Issus Mosaic,” which reinterprets the famous “Alexander the Great” mosaic—an ancient 2,000-year-old masterpiece rediscovered in Pompeii and currently housed at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, where Colbert also exhibited earlier this year. The artist transposes the composition into his dystopian Lobsteropolis, a setting imbued with both nostalgia and foreboding. The battle between Colbert’s lobster and an encroaching force of AI avatars urges viewers to reconsider the enduring impact of art history as it directly encounters the digital revolution.

In addition to the paintings, the exhibition includes a series of sculptures that animate the drama of the battle scenes, drawing inspiration from classical mythological figures such as the Centaur, Minotaur, and Medusa. By reinterpreting these legendary entities in his signature style, Colbert emphasizes the timeless allure of mythology and its continued relevance in our contemporary era.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the theme of Old Master battle scenes,” Colbert remarks. “These artworks capture such pivotal moments where the outcomes are decisive in shaping history—whether the battle is won or lost. I employ this powerful visual framework to stage my own ‘pop battle’ of aesthetics, reflecting my position in a hyper-saturated world where I constantly battle for meaning within a ‘hyper-pop soup.’”

“My lobster persona affords me the liberty to delve into the multi-layered dimensions of time, spanning from the artistic foundations of antiquity to the futuristic visions of sci-fi. My paintings serve as portals to a realm beyond the constraints of time. The lobster has long symbolized time and mortality—alive yet fixed in a state that transcends life and death. It’s an apt symbol for exploring realms beyond time.”

Saatchi Gallery invites you to immerse yourself in Philip Colbert’s lobster world in “The Battle for Lobsteropolis,” where the past and future collide in a homage to the resilience of art amid the ongoing technological evolution of our era.

Exhibition Dates: November 29, 2024 – January 13, 2025.
Location: The exhibition will be held on the Ground Floor in Gallery 4, and admission is free to the public.

Lisbeth Thalberg

Journalist and artist (photographer). Editor of the art section at MCM.

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