July 2007
David Bailin is an Arkansas-based artist whose large charcoal on paper drawings most resemble the works of William Kentridge. As in Kentridge's work, the gestural hand moves swiftly across the page, creating narrative scenarios in which a man struggles against his environment. In these evocative and well drawn works, Bailin's figure performs the tasks of a teacher or office worker, cleaning, filing or simply waiting, isolated in a corner of the work. Often surreal or at least surprising elements share the space, yet the protagonist never seems aware of the intrusions. The images are purposely claustrophobic, which serves to identify you with the characters' plight (Koplin Del Rio Gallery, Culver City).