NYAB Event - Jessica Lichtenstein "Play"

Jessica Lichtenstein "Play"

gallery nine 5

This event has ended.

For her second solo show at the gallery, Lichtenstein explores the relationship between materialism and sexuality through the recontextualization of popular Japanese erotic imagery.

Fascinated by the mass‐production and fetishism of hyper‐sexualized Japanese figurines, Lichtenstein juxtaposes mass‐produced anime dolls and pornographic comic book characters in ironic situations in order to imbue them with new associations and richer meanings. Lichtenstein challenges her audience to engage with and question the function of these images from a Western perspective; to weigh how much of the images’ sexuality is ascribed by the spectator.

Expanding on her last exhibition, Lichtenstein still works with Japanese female figurines and inserts them into real‐world situations from cooking, to shopping, to getting ready for a night out on the town. Each figurine is given stereotypical Western accoutrements like bottles of champagne, designer shoes and bags, and shelves of nail polish. However, with her second show, Lichtenstein moves a step further to create imagined landscapes, and expands her media to include graphic design, 3D text sculptures, light boxes and fabric. The artist strives for the presentation of her work to echo her ideas ‐ art should ultimately entertain. Lichtenstein reveals her playful nature with complex pieces that divulge their depth only with a closer look ‐ a cherry tree image on a light box is actually a composite of X‐rated sirens.

[Image: Jessica Lichtenstein "Play" Sculpture, acrylic, LED lights and steel]