Less Bad explores various themes, from intimate experiences like fatherhood, love, friendship, and loss to broader issues such as tenderness, masculinity, introspection, and vulnerability. Haendel's exploration of masculinity is particularly significant and personal, challenging stereotypical definitions by emphasizing vulnerability, intimacy, and friendship.
This site-specific exhibition created by the artist is organized in collaboration with Executive Director Aldy Milliken and Dr. Andrea Gyorody, director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University.
Artist Karl Haendel’s commitment to traditional drawing techniques in an era of digital dominance is both a technical choice and a conceptual statement. His process, marked by a deliberate pace, invites viewers to engage deeply with each piece, fostering a slower, more contemplative approach to art appreciation.
Less Bad refers to the artist’s use of self-deprecating humor as a versatile comedic approach that involves poking fun at oneself instead of others, all the while delivering a message about trying to be a better human. The work invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and engage deeply at the crossroads of art, society, and personal experience.
