May 7th thru May 31st

"Behind the Curtain"
Recent Works by CHLOË FELDMAN EMISON

 

"Behind the Curtain" features three series of images. Harlequin performers stand rather disconsolately in front of curtains with massive, sometimes surreal clasps holding them shut. In a second series, girls sail over landscapes dotted by toy villages, held aloft by billowing red sheets. And in the third, sad, sagging humans in simple grey shifts sprout wings, only to find themselves in chains. Over forty images are included, ranging from 10 x 8" to 19 x 14" (framed).

If the task of an artist today is to find an alternative to, on the one hand, the showmanship of a Saatchi artist, and on the other hand, the endless stream of pleasant but unchallenging pictures, watercolor is a daring medium to choose. These works on paper, with their relatively small scale, lend themselves to close looking rather than attempting the bold, big presence of much of modern art. Some of the images impinge on the naive; they feature girls with messy hair and quaint if slightly bizarre clothing. They may remind the viewer at times of children's book illustration. Yet in many cases their themes are quite adult: fear, frustration, pain.

Works from this show are available to view + purchase in our online shop!

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