K. Saito and Orlando Richards Exhibition
Kentler International Drawing Space
This event has ended.
Kentler International Drawing Space presents solo exhibitions by two artists: WORDROACH, by K. Saito and In Bold Colors, by Orlando Richards. Each of these artists presents an international worldview and takes an innovative approach to language and human condition in his work.
Born in Japan in 1948, K. Saito has lived and worked in New York City since 1990. This exhibition showcases new works from WORDROACH, an ongoing series the artist began in 1999. Made up of 3-dimensional works and large-scale ink drawings on paper, WORDROACH humorously explores the vulnerability and absurdity of human life. Saito employs the image of the cockroach (the most resilient of all life forms according to popular lore) in combination with nonsensical or “foolish” text to symbolize human folly and our eventual self-destruction. To this end, the language itself is often shown transforming, disappearing or burning from one end. The artist’s implicit nihilism is delivered here somewhat disarmingly with wit and in a playfully cartoonish style. A brochure with an essay by Reiko Tomii accompanies the exhibition.
In Bold Colors
(front gallery space)
Curated by Charlotta Kotik
Orlando Richards is a self-taught artist of Jamaican descent currently living and working in Brooklyn, New York. In Bold Colors, curated by Charlotta Kotik, features monumental and small-scale works on paper and hand-made paper in a range of media, including oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor and charcoal. Many of Richards’ compositions appear to show primal characters in dynamic, compressed foreground scenes. His use of overall bold colors - which the artist describes as his “language” - unifies the figures within their often chaotic surroundings, creating loose but evocative narratives. In this way Richards merges representation with abstraction to emphasize the expressive qualities of human connection, myth, memory, and storytelling. A brochure accompanies the exhibition, featuring an artist interview by Charlotta Kotik and Sallie Mize.
Media
Schedule
from February 05, 2016 to March 27, 2016
Opening Reception on 2016-02-05 from 18:00 to 20:00