33 Contemporary | 12/1-12/31 | Virtual

What We Can Imagine

In 33 Contemporary’s online exhibition Presence and Absence, one can see that there is much more than what immediately meets the eye

For 33 Contemporary’s online exhibition Presence and Absence, viewers are encouraged to consider the differences between what is obvious and what is implied. In around 20 stimulating artworks, ranging in subject matter and medium, one can see that there is much more than what immediately meets the eye.Brianna Lee, Dissonance, oil on panel, 20 x 16"

“We normally view the world from the standpoint of what is perceptible and tangible in a three-dimensional environment,” explains gallery director Sergio Gomez. “When looking at art, we often adopt a similar mindset and attempt to make sense of the work based on only what we can see in the picture. However, what is absent, concealed or intimated in the artwork is frequently a crucial aspect of the story the artist is revealing to us. Each painting in this exhibition draws an intriguing comparison between what we can see and what we can imagine.”Sarah Muirhead, Dream, acrylic on linen 38 1⁄5 x 35 2⁄5"

Starting with the striking figurative work Dissonance, by Brianna Lee, one can begin to take notice of the show theme at play. “The painting was inspired by the influence of the media (especially social media) on our mental health and well-being and the fabric of society as a whole,” says the artist. “In the painting, a young woman stands at a bus stop in a rural neighborhood waiting to embark on her journey. Behind her, the pole is plastered with messages and symbols representing all of the ‘noise’ from [the media]. She has her back to the post and instead reflects inward, listening to music that allows her to dive deep into a world within her. Undoubtedly, this girl is representative of how I felt during the chaos of 2020 and my desire to cut off the outside noise and trust my inner guide to get me through a challenging time…”Sergio Gomez, Seeds of Identity, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40"

Sarah Muirhead, also a figurative painter impacted by the effects of the pandemic, displays her acrylic piece Dream. “My subconscious certainly became overactive during lockdown,” she explains. “This was an attempt to document a dream I experienced during that time. It’s an interesting exercise, trying to make visual sense out of a concept that is inherently illogical and lacks structure. The process inevitably means that you lose the transient, ethereal experience but create something new in an attempt to translate an idea from a subconscious, passive experience to tangible visual storytelling…”

She continues, “I like to look at objects of curiosity and bodies with an intense, voyeuristic tone through the lens of the female gaze and I focus on texture, touch, manic detail and scenes that are relatable yet unnerving. The layered images and illogical perspective were an attempt to allude to the artifice and fiction of the situation being portrayed.” Muirhead notes that she disguised the face of the figure in the painting, using a mask from The Met as reference—to further the idea that “we are everyone and no one in our dreams.”Ellen Starr Lyon, Perched, oil on panel, 24 x 18"The exhibition includes yet another talented figurative artist, Ellen Starr Lyon, but her show pieces Perched and Flora and Fauna re-examine the artist’s journey with self-portraiture. Lyon explains, “I was encouraged to think about my work a little differently and the result was Flora and Fauna and, as it turned out, this became another iteration of self-portraiture. The scene is built of all the things I love: bright color, natural light, textiles, patterns, plants, and my furry stand-in.” Perched is a similar scene, in which Lyon’s cat, Frida, intensely stares at the viewer, perched on a dresser and backlit by bright sunlight. “As an artist,” Lyon continues, “I identify with her and the questions posed of her, the outward and inward scrutiny.”

For the full month of December, 33 Contemporary presents these powerful masterpieces, and many more, found on the online platform artsy. The full web address is found below. —

33 Contemporary – Zhou B Art Center
1029 W. 35th Street, 4th floor • Chicago, IL 60609
(708) 837-4534 • www.artsy.net/show/33-contemporary-presence-and-absence