L21 gallery is pleased to present “Berserkers”, the first exhibition of American artist Rob Thom in Spain, in which he presents a new series of paintings whose central theme revolves around wrestling.

The berserkers were Viking warriors who fought half-naked, covered in skins. They entered combat under a certain psychotic trance, almost insensitive to pain. It is said that they were as strong as bears or bulls and there was no fire or steel that could stop them. Their mere presence frightened their enemies and even their companions in battle, because in that state of trance they were not able to distinguish allies from enemies.

The exhibition, made up of a group of paintings of different formats, immerses us in a cosmos of violence where a bloodthirsty public orbits around a series of fighter-characters who satisfy their desires.

Wrestling, with its mix of sport, theater, spectacle, and catharsis, is one of the most impressive and fascinating cultural manifestations in the world and has been connected to the human race practically since its origins. The ancient Greeks already challenged each other in fighting competitions to test their bravery and skills in hand-to-hand combats.

Through canvases dotted with distorted faces and figures, the artist reflects on the relationship that exists between wrestling and contemporary society. Physical combat becomes a mirror in which we can see the tensions, conflicts and social dynamics that characterize our time.

In paintings like Untitled (desire) or D.D.T.M. the figure of the fighter disappears, and the viewers become an active part of the work. They are no longer part of the audience watching the fight from afar but are in the canvas. The artist has placed them in the middle of the ring, without them noticing… On guard!

This warning could be a good leitmotiv for the contemporary citizen, who enters daily the ring of a society in constant dispute for power, resources, and influence without ever knowing where the next blow will come from.

Enrique Suasi