Time and Random Data in Sequence

DE BOUWPUT is pleased to present Time and Random Data in Sequence an exhibition of work by Ron Laboray curated by Camilla Boemio. The exhibition—which includes unique, large-scale layered drawings and a series of animated music videos created concurrently with the Pretty Power series, works that complement the pop cultural musical references found in the drawings; that inaugurate a new direction in the artist’s practice; is on view from october 7 through october 11, 2025, in Amsterdam. An opening reception will be held on october 7 from 5 to 8 pm.

Laboray drawings navigate the space between abstract language of mapping and realistic representation, not as opposing forces, but as related points along a spectrum of actual, perceptual, and procedural distances, including time. These works function as historical documents, archiving shared cultural experiences and capturing a specific moment in our collective worldview. Ultimately, his practice reflects on how we, as humans, define identity and reality through shared interpretation and invention. As a creative his focus has been on what connects us. The series includes large- scale, layered drawings exploring the complex relationship between power and beauty.

His artistic research involves the collection of seemingly random facts—data points that connect us in unexpected ways. In the studio, these facts are transformed into sprayed, out-of-focus images and color-coded areas, resulting in abstractions that are contrasted against line drawings of historical images. All this information is organized within a temporal timeline. In other words, the colors, quantities, and placement of elements within the composition are determined and organized through scientific methods and temporal sequencing.  The titles of the artworks are often matter-of-fact descriptions of the information presented, offering insight into the work and acting as triggers for the creation of connective narratives. While the processes of appropriation, chance, and even the application of paint spraying might initially suggest a detached approach, the resulting works reveal his personal investment through humor, reflection, and a sense of hope.

Here, historical events, cultural icons, natural wonders, and traditional symbols evoking these dual conditions are juxtaposed, and represented with realistically rendered images and abstract fields of color. Among these elements, the audience will discover Shirley Muldowney’s victory as the first American woman drag racing champion, the national flowers of the G12 countries, a diagram used for cutting gemstones, and cultural artifacts associated with musical icons Kurt Cobain and Syd Barrett. A clear plastic drop cloth acts as a canvas allowing the transparent surface to be aTected on both sides, black permanent marker on one side with paint applied to the other, with the plastic and permanent materials functioning as a metaphor for the elements of popular culture they display. The see-through quality is essential to the drawing’s existence as a timeline, as the newest information will be placed at the top of the composition and the oldest in the background, though the orientation is sometimes reversed. A visual timeline evoking reflection and a sense of celebration is the result. Like stars in the night sky, the subject matter within each composition is separated by time and distance; but, as a drawing, they are compressed into a constellation.

The exhibition also includes a series of animated music videos created concurrently with drawings, works that complement the pop cultural musical references found in the drawings.

Along with these drawings, he presenting a collaborative project “Little Richard’s Almanac”. LRA is an art collective founded by Ron Laboray and Niki Elliott as a studio project producing animated music videos. Our work has garnered international recognition, with videos exhibited in galleries worldwide and achieving significant online viewership. In 2024 we produced two videos for the psychedelic Western band Federale. These animations, “No Strangers” and “Advice From a Stranger” on the album “Reverb and Seduction”, were release on Jealous Butcher records in Portland Oregon. Both have been selected for film festivals. Notably, our animation for "Advice From A Stranger," was nominated for Best Music Video at the Miami International Sci-Fi Film Festival and the WXAS Paris International Film Festival in 2025. The music video is our medium of choice as animators because it encourages collaboration across two art forms, with synergy between visual and musical artistry as an invaluable source of creative inspiration. These partnerships push us towards unexpected and exciting outcomes. Also, the shortform nature of the music video pairs well with animation, a process demanding 100s of hours of labor to produce only a few minutes of video. Rooted in contemporary conceptual art, we approach each animation as a unique work of art. While music videos are often consumed casually, we actively seek to elevate them beyond the typical viewing experience by exhibiting them within museums and galleries. Included in this exhibition are videos for the bands, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Federale, L.A. Mood and German composer Engelbert Lerch.
 

Time and Random Data in Sequence
DE BOUWPUT
Ferdinand Huyckstraat 74 Amsterdam
Artist: Ron Laboray
Curated by Camilla Boemio
Graphic design: Alessandra Neri
Opening: 07.10 5pm
Period: 07.10 – 11.10