Friday, December 10, 2010

1st year MFA SHOW: 'You Are Here I am'


Enriched with conceptually stimulating works of art, the show’s curatorial process was able to exhibit 2D and 3D works in a shared space successfully. Upon entering, the sculptures of Max Cemeno greeted the viewer and gave an insight on how technology, machinery, and the non organic can take over the organic aspects of life, in this case animals, and have a particular function. The pig’s head being a mere gateway through which red liquid, only to be interpreted as blood is flowing into a barrel continuously, becomes endearing to the extent where the viewer must examine the barrel itself and question its ability to constantly remain with the same content of the liquid as it keeps flowing in. After the realization of the simple machinery conducting the display, the eye is met by a furious shark ready to attack, just as the fighter planes of the pacific were meant to do as they were decorated with bulging sharks on their noses. Yet again the viewer is brought to the open boundaries created by Cemeno, where the organic and the non organic are fused together to create another form of function in the space they both share.
               




   Being nothing short of stellar, the sculptures instantly sold the show. However, it was only a prelude to a vibrant exhibit that encompassed the main room and the smaller branched out gallery spaces. To compliment the 3D works of art, paintings such as deANGELO’s and Camperchiolises series made the exhibition  even more inticing. To contrast both, the encounter of a 3D hanging on a wall, done by artist Jim Brittingham gave a legitemate diversity to the show. The collaged material on the surface is compositionaly appropriated to have the eye guided through by the color and the static reflections of light. It is interesting to see an  intricate quality of line combined with a more roughly applied material, only to be painted on with even more vibrant colors. The only proposed problem would be its constrained rectangular display, as it diminishes willingness of the rough material and the genuine writing to respectively expand throughout the gallery wall.
                  It is all such intriguing works that lead the viewer to one of most astonishing features of the show. Created as an installation, it could be also more precisely recognized as a sculpture and a video piece, the work assembled by artist  Stefanos Milkidis took over one  of the gallery spaces only to bring a viewer into a world of entrapment. It is the chaotic presentation of video on the wall and the ceiling of the room displaying entrapped persons that give a feel of entrapment, which is then accompanied by a sculpture present in the video, in which it is the reason for the state of mind and the physical nature of containment. Such presentation makes the viewer  visualize the horrid state and consequently even become part of it.
                  The artists were able to present a challenge to the viewer and toy around with the viewer’s mind not only with their work but the title which brands their show. It is intriguing see a diverse goup of work be put  together in a gallery and give back something to the eye, it has never seen before. It is inspiring as much as gratifying to be able to see a show of such creative degree.

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