Limited to 750 signed and numbered copies, SEISMIC DREAMS continues the investigation of painting and Polaroid that Jeremy began with his last book, Isolated But Not Alone. It is a substantial 194 pages and features 162 new oil painted Polaroid works, all made between October 2018 and October 2019.
While he has built an audience of more than half a million followers on his Instagram account, exhibitions and books are still the only way to view his work in an uncensored form.
New gestures recall dreamlike hazes, swirling brushstrokes, and seismic heartbeats while packing a poetic punch of intense color, all over Jeremy's signature, male-nude polaroids. These new marks are more painterly, more intentional, more whimsical, and more romantic. The Polaroids are sharper, with stronger definition and deeper range. The resulting works stand in contrast to the overly-saturated, high-contrast photography we see in today’s Instagram world. Two-dimensional snapshots become textured and alive. Contrast is distilled. The paint acts as an energetic punch against the muted, dreamlike tones of the Polaroid.
Rather than disguise or obscure, the paint brings both the figure and landscape of the original image into sharper relief, while repeating the conversation of figure and ground again with paint to Polaroid.
Whether staring back at the camera or captured at a distance, the men in Kost’s work exude a true sense of intimacy. They offer a canvas for our own projections and fantasies. The paint fractures the image, almost puncturing a reverie, reminding us of the vulnerability of that moment and inviting us in while also keeping us at a distance.
In addition, the book contains a short but poetic introduction by Emmy and Tony Award winning actor, Billy Porter.
Seismic Dreams is an essential addition for fans of Kost’s work and brilliant introduction to his work for new audiences.