Hasta La Gadget!

At first glance, the multi-media artworks of German artist Dirk Skreber seems to have one thing in common — chaos. From crashed vehicles to gliding drones to scuba divers armed with anti-matter guns, his paintings and installations showcase imagery often associated with war, destruction and death. Yet the artist’s masterful technique using vibrant and detailed strokes that border on the realm of hyper-realism evoke a sense of serenity and awe, or as the artist puts it, “euphoria.” The mounting contradictions are something Skreber relishes, a melding of calm, painterly elements with striking, controversial tableaus that persist in all of his artworks.

The subject matter of his newest exhibit, which opens at Petzel Gallery this month, is perhaps the most intriguing example of his contradictory nature. Titled “Pain(t)ology and Other Trials,” the collection features paintings based on the infamous photographs of the Pentagon after 9/11, which, according to some conspiracy theorists, gives credence to notion that the event was enacted from within the US defense base. From these contentious images of the Pentagon, Skreber moves to the Russian courtroom, reconstructing the iconic cage used to house the three members of Pussy Riot during their hugely-publicized legal showdown and meteoric rise to fame. In an interview with Skreber conducted earlier this month, the artist explains his aesthetic fascination with drones, cages and the power of beautiful women. (Scroll down for photos.)