In Residence: James Ostrer ‘Post Apoca-Lips’

We spoke to James Ostrer during his studio residency at Melior Place, where he developed the exhibition ‘Post Apoca-Lips’. The space in Bermondsey will become Kristin Hjellegjerde gallery’s new London home in 2021. Ostrer’s work analyses sexuality and the body in society, through a focus on biopolitics. His repeated patterns and cartoon-like figures, made from various found objects, act as commentaries on late capitalism and rampant over-consumption. From a psychological viewpoint, Ostrer is interested in probing the limits of self-help and wellness ideology, positioning himself as both the therapist and the client. His interest in transgressive behaviours and examining our own place in the contemporary food-chain forms a crucial aspect of his practice.