Modern life is a digital tapestry of shifting realities, ideologies, and symbols colliding from both the past and present. Feel consumed through Roger Whitridge’s painting series, Order and Chaos—that translates these absurd dualities throughout decades. These symbols can be mass-consumed from film and television; or emerge from the spiritual and esoteric. Through the manual act of painting, Whitridge breaks down images transmitted on screens into new visual languages, questioning their origins and documenting their transformations. One can feel lost or unease being thrown into this tornado-like kaleidoscope; but its navigation can also be hopeful, triumphant, and sublime. Even if this journey terrifies, the series aims to inspire—and confront.
His painting style is less about representing what he sees, and more about creating an allegory of competing realities by blending figures, still life settings, and tromp l’oeil techniques that explore philosophical and historical conundrums. For example, in Order and Chaos: Liberation, Whitridge juxtaposes Plato's allegory of the cave, with Shiva, God of creation, destruction and transformation, alongside the Zen notion of all life is connected, as embodied by the Dali Lama image. Altogether they form an allegory that relates to his interest in how humans have lost touch with planet Earth, “the terrarium that we depend on to survive,” as he says, confusing Order and Chaos.
Curated by Dakota Noot, Acting Director, Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion
Follow Roger Whitridge: Website | @rwhitridge2026
Press Release: OCC Marketing & Public Relations (January 2024)
Dates:
Reception: Thursday, Feb. 1, 4-6 p.m.
Campus reception: Saturday, Feb. 3, 1-4 p.m., with short artist walkthrough at 1 p.m.
Concurrent exhibition: Monroe Isenberg: nowhere is here
