Ryan Wallace "GLEAN"

Morgan Lehman Gallery

poster for Ryan Wallace "GLEAN"

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Morgan Lehman presents GLEAN, a solo exhibition of new works by Ryan Wallace. In his first exhibition with the gallery, Wallace continues his exploration of current trends and advancements in science, technology and consciousness. His research draws from books, websites, trade and mass media publications, industry reports, television and seminars. He uses this data and theories as starting points for his paintings and drawings, which act as visual solutions to his curiosity and meditations on these themes.

Much of the data mined for paintings like "Quest (Higgs Boson) 1" was culled from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) website, specifically charts and reports related to the Large Hadron Collider. This multi-billion dollar experiment has drawn much public attention and speculation. It has been called the greatest scientific gamble of all time as it searches to find the "God Particle", reveal the scaffolding of the cosmos, explain the Big Bang, and threatens to engulf the universe. Frequent breakdowns of the machine have lead to recent theories that something from the future has gone back in time to sabotage it and other projects. Wallace finds a strong parallel to the hyperbole, fear, excitement and wonder surrounding the sciences and what it means to be a conscious person amongst broader personal concerns and desires in modern times.

Throughout his process, Wallace manipulates the inherent properties of paints, papers, plastics and tapes to affect the varied surface of his works. A precarious nature of final outcomes is embraced and exploited. While obsessively arranged, each work is an articulation of arbitrary marks and mildly controlled accidents. Material is gathered laboriously, bit-by-bit, found in intentional creations as well as haphazard residue and remnants from the studio. These bits are accumulated, mulled over, reworked and composed into entireties as a universal shape manifests, repeatedly revealing itself throughout the exhibition. Layers of Mylar are glued over entire surfaces. Mild relief beneath yields an atmosphere of subtle trapped air pockets creating a hazy visage. In other works the plane finds itself slashed and oozing. Opalescent powder is thrown at thickly applied polyvinyl acetate and jade adhesive, clumped and matte in areas simultaneously sparkling wildly in the light and shadow of others.

Media

Schedule

from February 11, 2010 to March 20, 2010

Opening Reception on 2010-02-11 from 18:00 to 20:00

Artist(s)

Ryan Wallace

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