Gary Hume intends his semi-abstract enamel on aluminum paintings of flowers, birds, human figures to stand on their own, but a hand-drawn wall mural featuring cartoon mice and wide-eyed children on the walls of his latest solo show at Matthew Marks Gallery sways interpretation. The gallery explains that the mural was inspired by wall paintings in a UK immigration center for children that were covered over for being “too welcoming.” In Hume’s reinterpretation, Mickey and Minnie Mouse wave their gloved hands, either in greeting or to say goodbye, while huge versions of the cat Tom from ‘Tom and Jerry’ are more menacing than friendly. The alienating effect travels to the paintings, turning these clusters of grapes into symbols of fruitful abundance withheld. (On view through Oct 24th).
