This Friday, GR gallery will present Dimensional Fantasia a chimerical group presentation featuring Japanese twin brothers Koshiro and Kenshiro Kihara and South Korean artist Jung Yong Lee, exhibiting for the first time in the U.S. Dismantling and redefining the boundaries between abstraction and figuration, art and life and deepening the investigation on optical illusion and tree-dimensionality depiction. These three painters will design an extravagant realm made of super flat shiny blob formations, post-apocalyptic blistering dioramas and perfectly sculpted brushstrokes architectures that will guide the viewers through an enlightening journey toward a new interpretation of dimension. The exhibition is comprised of a total of 18 artworks, specifically created for the occasion, executed with oil or acrylic and airbrush on canvas in various sizes.
Dimensional Fantasia aims to explore the unique aesthetic directions in which these three blazing talents interpret the liminal area in between the idea and the visual materialization of it. Koshiro Kihara's oil paintings ingeniously blend conflicting elements like "instantaneous" and "eternal," within a single canvas, dissolving conventional boundaries. Central to his artistry is the exploration of the interplay between "abstraction" and "figuration." His works intricately weave together abstract and figurative elements, blurring their distinctions and challenging viewers perceptions. In addition to this juxtaposition, Kihara explores other dichotomies such as fact and fiction, moment and eternity, two and three-dimensional, original and copy, natural and artificial. While words can articulate these dichotomies, their true essence lies in the elusive boundary between them, a boundary that his art is able to capture. Thus, Kihara's artistic endeavor is driven by the recognition that language falls short in conveying the depth and complexity of these contrasts, compelling him to express them through his paintings.
Kenshiro Kihara's artistic process merges creativity and introspection. He crafts intricate dioramas from a curated collection of images and figurines, capturing them through photography to create captivating paintings. His technique involves layering these images, deftly manipulating blurred and unblurred surfaces to evoke nostalgia and timelessness. These elements are reminiscent of the imaginative play of childhood. They transcend their physical dimensions, assuming lifelike textures akin to real people and landscapes. Through this technique, Kihara deliberately emphasizes the artificiality of his creations, blurring the line between reality and fiction. This dynamic interplay serves as a profound interrogation on perception, challenging viewers to reconsider their understanding of reality. By employing photography as a mediating medium, Kihara liberates his motifs from personal connotations, facilitating a deeper connection with a broader audience
Jung-Yong Lee observes how often we rely on visual shapes to recognize objects, but he cautions against mistaking the complete image of an object as purely visual. He argues that while vision provides intuition, it lacks objectivity. Lee suggests that the true ability to generate an object's image lies within the self, that is the subject of imagination.
He begins by crafting an intellectual ideal shape using colored clay, transcending the limitations of visual perception. This form is then transferred to canvas through painting, with the artist molding materials based on experience, thoughts, and perspective. This process aims to blend abstract sculptures with realism, inviting diverse interpretations. Lee emphasizes the importance of introspection in his artistic creation, transforming his compositions in vehicles for exploring identity and internal changes, able to foster a deeper artistic dialogue.
Opening Reception: Thursday June 6, 2024 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
