Currently on view at Et al., San Francisco is “Tony Clifton Eats for Free,” a solo exhibition by Chris Hood. Utilizing the materiality of canvas like a screen or a rag, the works in “Tony Clifton Eats for Free” are at once both surprisingly interrelated and in playful opposition. The titular character of the exhibition’s fame and mythology are spread amongst various actors, interpreters, and impostors; an apt reference for a body of work that acts as a stage for multiple roles and citations. The egregious lounge singer’s disputable existence only adds to his reputation, he maintains an open tab at a restaurant nearby the artist’s studio but its unclear if the offer has ever been taken up. Clifton’s legacy justifies the restaurant’s policy, and in turn the policy makes Clifton that much more real.

 

Installation view.  Courtesy of Et al.

Installation view. Courtesy of Et al.

Installation view.  Courtesy of Et al.

Installation view. Courtesy of Et al.

 

Chris Hood is on view through April 11, 2014.
For more information visit Et al., San Francisco.