Alex Israel’s first solo show in Paris “Thirty” at Almine Rech, Paris

For his first solo show in Paris, Purple contributor Alex Israel presents Thirty, a title that coincides with his recent thirtieth birthday. For Thirty Israel visioned a floor-to-ceiling mural depicting Los Angeles’ sunset sky which has been painted directly onto the gallery walls of Almine Rech. The mural is the same source of imagery that Israel used as backdrop to frame the set of AS IT LAYS, his recent web-series of video portraits of Los Angeles’ celebrities, which are currently featured on Purple Televsion here. Israel enlisted Warner Bros Studios scenic painter Andrew Pike, who painted the same backdrop for the AS IT LAYS set, to paint the mural onsite in Paris. Within the space Israel has placed a selection of objects taken from a movie studio to act as a sort of Hollywood casting. Altogether Israel has transformed the gallery into a surrealistic Hollywood stage-set. The exhibition is on view until November 17th 2012 at Almine Rech, 19 Rue de Saintonge, 75003, Paris. Photo Annabel Fernandes