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Jack Hanley Gallery: Michael Bauer - Basho's Friends.

Comment: Contorted abstractions peppered with sporadic figural flourishes, lone cigarettes, and dangling glandular appurtenances indicate that you'll inevitably cypher portraits out somehow. The liner notes draw comparisons between Michael Bauer's paintings and those of Giuseppe Arcimboldo. I see a little Paul Wunderlich too. However, in speaking with Bauer I reference Rudy Wunderlich instead of Paul-- which means neither of us know what I'm talking about (not all that unusual). Then Bauer says, "You mean Paul Wunderlich?" Yep. Anyway, in case you care, and I know you don't, Rudy Wunderlich was an influential figure in period American art collecting during the second half of the 20th century, and President of Kennedy Galleries in New York City.

Meanwhile, back at the show, Cologne Germany-based Bauer adroitly obscures the boundaries between abstract and representational, commingling 'em kind of like a two-fer (one or both - take your pick), plus he's got an enticingly uncommon color sense. In closing, I do a quick search on Basho from the show's title "Basho's Friends"-- probably Matsuo Basho, a 17th century Chinese poet-wanderer.