Baseman’s I Melt in Your Presence exhibition opened in 2007 at Modernism in San Francisco, California. With influences such as Hieronymous Bosch and Day of the Dead imagery mixed with a certain sensibility of cute Japanese pop art and Americana, Baseman’s paintings with their pretty palettes of pinks, oranges and blues, and cute cartoonish characters frolicking about, momentarily distract us from their dark, emotional symbolism.
In his work Baseman seeks to discover “some small human truth, something about the human condition.” What hits him the deepest are the personal themes of desire, longing and control, and aspects of value and worth.
Dripping with Desire – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 18” x 23.5”
Dying of Thirst (Yellow Utopia) – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 20” x 40”
In the Presence of True Desire – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 18” x 23.5”
In the Presence of True Desire B – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 23.5” x 18”
Madonna and the Secret Children of Play – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 23.5” x 18”
Playing in the Fields of ChouChou – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 18” x 23.5”
The Battlefield for Independence and Creamy Fulfillment – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 36” x 48”
Hills of Creamy Goodness – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 3’ x 8’
The Battlefield of Glory and Desire – Acrylic on wood panel, 2007, 20” x 39.5”
Page 43 – Colored pencil on ephemera, 2007, 9” x 6.25”
Page 115 – Colored pencil on ephemera, 2007, 9” x 6.25”
Page 27 – Colored pencil on paper, 2007, 9” x 6.25”
