QRST | Dreaming Without Sleeping

On Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of getting both a sneak peek and a private hangout session with Robin Grearson and Criminy Johnson—aka QRST, at The Active Space in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

During my many outings in Brooklyn with camera on tow, I’ve been lucky enough to come across QRST’s works three times. That doesn’t seem like much, but if you’re a purveyor of art on the streets you’re familiar with how quickly things disappear. I remember the first time I encountered QRST, it was a wheat-paste on Bowery of a pack of rats duking it out, their long disgusting tails spelling out those letters that make up Criminy Johnson’s alter ego.

Those rats have become a staple of what I associate with QRST. His artwork is somber, gloomy, and jam-packed with a New York aesthetic. His subjects are often our worst enemies; rats, pigeons and squirrels.

For his latest show, Dreaming Without Sleeping curated by Robin Grearson, some of those critters manage to make an appearance, but you’ll find that this work really focuses on the human aspect. The works, featuring many of his family members and going back down memory lane are very different from what I’ve associated with him.  The work continues to ooze this ominous feeling, but there’s an added feeling of love and compassion. He successfully captures life in a single moment.

As I walked through the gallery, I almost felt like I was looking through photographs. I was continuously figuring out what happened before and after the moment that was being presented to me and I hope other folks feel the same way.

Dreaming Without Sleeping open this evening at The Active Space, and will be on display through April (with appointment). Take a look at more photos below.