Philip Colbert at Station F – the artist known as “the grandson of Andy Warhol” exhibits his works until August 2, 2024.
Philip Colbert at Station F: The Lobster Pop Artist
Philip Colbert stands out on the contemporary art scene with his bold approach to Pop Art. He encountered art after completing his philosophy studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He recounts to Icon-Icon: “I was born in Scotland, I studied philosophy at St. Andrews. I was very obsessed with Friedrich Nietzsche and 19th century Germany.” This academic journey nourished his reflection on culture and society, themes that have become central to his work.
Philip Colbert’s aesthetic signature is immediately recognizable. His works are characterized by an explosion of bright colors and bold patterns that captivate instantly. Philip Colbert explains to Icon-Icon: “You can see that my color is red. I usually turn red when I’m cooked. What am I? I also have claws. And I am also a symbol of mortality, an important symbol of mortality since antiquity…” The lobster, this is his artistic alter ego – a totemic animal omnipresent in his creations.
This character is often transposed into absurd and humorous situations, echoing themes of consumerism, media overabundance, and the obsession with mass culture. Philip Colbert uses a variety of materials, ranging from oil painting to digital installations, to bring his universe to life.
Through his works, he skillfully merges elements of pop culture, fashion, and art to create a unique and provocative universe. Philip Colbert’s works are also characterized by extensive use of collage, combining different visual elements to create complex and multi-layered pieces. As he himself says: “I was obsessed with symbols. So I suppose I used a lot of symbols like the fried egg or Swiss cheese or the lobster. The lobster was the one that, because it was a kind of personification, like a personified symbol, I started using it a lot.”
Associated with the Pop Art movement, although his work transcends the traditional boundaries of this genre, he is inspired by artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. However, Philip Colbert adopts a post-modern approach, incorporating elements of digital culture and current social media to explore these central themes. His work can be read as a reflection on how consumer culture and modern technologies influence our perception of the world. “It’s a kind of melting pot of pop culture. I think today, especially with the internet and everything else, we live in this kind of complete whirlpool of everything. High, low, all together.”
Philip Colbert’s current exhibition at Station F in Paris, which runs until August 2, 2024, is titled “Lobsteropolis,” and it explores the theme of the utopian city through the eyes of his iconic lobster. It depicts an imaginary metropolis where lobsters reign supreme, an allegory of our own media and technology-saturated society.
The exhibition combines physical and digital works, offering an interactive experience to visitors. Augmented reality installations allow spectators to dive into Philip Colbert’s vibrant and eccentric universe while reflecting on the impacts of technology on society.
Not to be missed is the work that merges Duchamp’s Fountain with his iconic lobster. “I was obsessed with Marcel Duchamp, particularly, obviously, with the Fountain… Yes, having studied philosophy and things like that, for me, this symbol of the Fountain was like a punk rock symbol. It was just anarchic, turning things upside down. Initially, I made a sculptural dress, like a wearable art piece after the Fountain, like a portable fountain. And it was the same idea. At the time, I was interested in using this symbol for wearable art to represent clothing as an art medium. And so initially, I was very interested in this melting pot between clothing, music, art, fashion, all together.”
Philip Colbert is ultimately an artist who has redefined the contours of contemporary art with his unique style and critical vision of modern culture. His lobster character, a symbol of his work, navigates between humor and satire to offer a profound reflection on our times. Whether through colorful canvases, provocative sculptures, or immersive digital experiences, Philip Colbert continues to captivate and surprise his audience at Station F.