Nothing New Under The Sun

This new body of work by Ryan Hewett is a continuation of themes explored in his London exhibition New Paintings, with increasingly dehumanised figures portrayed in utopian, yet isolating landscapes. With strong allusions to Francis Bacon’s prophetic utopian vision of Atlantis, Hewett’s new exhibition at The Goss-Michael Foundation in Dallas poses questions as to what the future of humanity holds. It is left for the viewer to ponder existential questions about the nature of human existence and our relationship with the bounty of the natural world. As human figures are reduced to animalistic likenesses, and beautiful, but barren landscapes murmur with signs of distant life, Hewett imagines the uncharted future of our species and planet with a distinct impartiality as to whether we should be hopeful, or fearful, of our future.