The most interesting booth for me at PULSE NY this year was DUBNER MODERNE of Switzerland. A solo presentation of Li Jin was on show at the booth. The expressions on the faces of the characters in his work, often containing the portrait of the artist himself, are captivating. Its rare that a work can make the viewer smile.
According to the gallery: Replete with humor and his unmistakable “joie de vivre” Li Jin translates the usually mundane quotidian of life into a colorful and eloquent narrative of the moment using the tools of tradition. As an artist his perception of beauty and detail blossom from his appreciation as an active observer and partaker in life. Whether it be a table abounding with epicurean delights, a moment of quiet contemplation, or the enticing passions of love his graceful and masterly brushstrokes tell stories that are common to all, for they are the simple pleasures of life.
What makes this gallery special is their knowledge and genuine passion for their artists. Gallery founder and director Vernon Dubner’s enthusiasm for the artist, sharing personal stories about the artist and going through catalogues of his previous work, is contagious. Spend some time talking to this gallery about the work on show, and other artists that can be found here on their website. This young gallery is undoubtedly one I will be following in the future.
For those of you who wish to join me, here’s a link to their site: http://www.dubnermoderne.ch/Histoire.html
ADAMSON GALLERY presented a nice array of work. Adam Fuss and Robert Longo caught my attention at this booth. I could live happily with both of the artists work in my home. Though I’ve seen Longo’s work at quite a few fairs recently, I still fall in love with his beautiful execution and artistic understanding of light and shade.
I first came in contact with Fuss at ADAA’s The Art Show in 2012 and have been an avid follower of his photograms since. British born, Fuss has lived and worked in New York for over 30 years. His large, evocative photograms are both visually and conceptually stimulating. In the process of Snake 2012 Fuss places a snake onto a sensitized surface and uses a strobe light to capture the movements. The intensity of the piece must be seen in real life as the size and vivid colour of the work engage the viewer.
According to Adamson gallery “His work is distinctive for its contemporary re-interpretation of photography’s earliest techniques, particularly the daguerreotype and the camera-less photogram. Fuss states that in order for any photographic technique to work, it should be personalized and transfigured into a greater metaphor, engaging processes that take place in the natural world.”
ADAMSON EDITIONS plays an important role as a printmaker, collaborating with many of the worlds interesting artists today. David Adamson’s joy in collaborating with these artists was clear within seconds of speaking with him.
You can find out more info on the gallery and printmakers here: http://www.adamsongallery.com/gallery/
Check out Alicia Ross at BLACK & WHITE GALLERY/PROJECT SPACE.
According to the gallery, her works
“highlight the artist’s ongoing exploration of ideas surrounding conflicting views of feminine identity in the contemporary society and the ubiquitous virtuous/voracious societal impulses towards the female form. Ross appropriates images from online media sources and digitally translates them into cross-stitched constructions, using the sewing machine as a drawing tool. The finished pieces reflect a fusion between hand-made traditions and digital aesthetics.”
Find out more about the gallery here:
http://www.blackandwhiteartgallery.com
Take the time to read Miki Taira’s stories at BEJING TOKYO ART PROJECTS. Trained in Japanese script initially, Miki Taira moved toward contemporary art in order to express herself without conservative constraints. Her stories, verbal tales told from different districts in Japan, have been passed down through generations. They never represent an exact figure, mentioning “a husband” or “old lady” or “a monks apprentice”, and this translates to her small sculptures, devoid of a face. The entire story is written in Japanese script on the sculpture, and accompanied by a page of writing in English. The stories teach a lesson in a witty and charming manner. You won’t regret spending time reading each one, and you may yourself learn something in the process. You may also be lucky enough to catch the artist at the booth.
For more info on the gallery:
http://www.tokyo-gallery.com/artists/japan/miki-taira.html
Also worth mentioning is:
Sohei Nishino’s diorama maps at MICHAEL HOPPEN CONTEMPORARY. Created from memory, these maps are layered icons of each city. According to the artist’s website, the works involved a great deal of preparation. “The creation of a Diorama Map takes the following method; Walking around the chosen city on foot; shooting from various location with film; pasting and arranging with enormous mound of pieces.” A viewer could spend hours looking at each intricate work.
Christine Flynn at FITZROY/KNOX in ImPulse. “Home is not a place, rather a memory of my life with others”, according to the artist. She looks towards the everyday, capturing memories. “My intention is not to recreate existence of objects that I shoot, rather to encourage the images to be seen beyond our own obliviousness.”
Rob and Nick Carter “Transforming Vanitas Painting” at THE FINE ART SOCIETY, London. Talk to the gallerists here about the work, and read the catalogue describing how the work was brought to life.
Damian Stamer at FREIGHT + VOLUME is worth spending some time looking at, with his Richteresque brush strokes exploring concepts of home and homeland.
