Joshua Jobb. Ludus Naturae

On the occasion of its sixth anniversary to be celebrated this spring, Saenger Gallery reaffirms its program in collaboration with young artists from the international contemporary scene, continuing this year with the solo exhibition of artist Joshua Jobb (Mexico City, 1984) in the Project Room. For this occasion, Jobb, who lives on the outskirts of Oaxaca City, has prepared the exhibition LUDUS NATURAE, in which he integrates a heterogeneous set of works that reflect two fundamental areas of action in his practice: wandering and contemplation.

The exhibition is composed of a charcoal finger-drawing, vertical sculptures made from pencil shavings, fire impressions on drywall, wall and ceiling installations with reclaimed materials such as branches and drink stirrers, as well as a selection of images from the vast photographic archive the artist has gathered throughout his practice. Joshua Jobb’s exhibition addresses the everyday intersection of people in the landscape. Whether it be a walk through the valleys of Oaxaca or a stroll through the streets of the metropolis, Jobb moves through the landscape alert to those encounters that, by their unexpected nature, hold significant potential for him in their incalculable wonder.

An example of this unique practice, where the artist meditates on his movement and presence on the earth, is the photographic archive that Jobb has collected with a playful sense as he wanders the world. The persistent discovery of human traces, through buildings, machinery, cars, and all kinds of artificial objects, coexists with the abundant presence of nature in a state of overlap and indeterminacy. In this sense, LUDUS NATURAE by Joshua Jobb reveals a creative system that stems from the naturalist logbook and urban chronicle, allowing him to build a narrative about the artistic practice embedded in the everyday of his immediate surroundings, in that “way of being,” in the artist’s words, that “is to wander.”

— Christian Barragán