Contributed by Kelly Inouye

 

Haines Gallery is currently running “Poetics of Construction”, a group show featuring a renown group of international artists: Ai Weiwei, Pierre Cordier, Monir Farmanfarmaian, Buckminster Fuller, Andy Goldsworthy, Patsy Krebs, David Nash, Yoshitomo Saito, Leslie Shows and Camille Utterback.

 

The show examines the varied nature of the artistic process, advertising an analogous relationship to poetry and language. Many works in the show hinge on the use of geometric form.

 

 

DAVID NASH. Cuts Down to Cuts Across / Cuts Across to Cuts Down, 2008. 
Redgum, 2 parts
each:: 32.5 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches. Courtesy Haines Gallery
AI WEIWEI. 
F Size, 2010. 
Huali wood. 
51 x 51 x 51 inches. Courtesy Haines Gallery

 

David Nash’s Cuts Down to Cuts Across / Cuts Across to Cuts Down and Ai Weiwei’s F size are fairly traditional wood sculpture exploring form and pattern. What could be perceived as Ai’s sculptural tribute to soccer is actually a meticulously and beautifully crafted example of Divine Proportion (as illustrated by Leonardo DaVinci for mathematician Luca Pacioli in 1509).  Nash’s work takes chainsaw sculpture to new heights of elegance.

 

 

PATSY KREBS. Untitled (dark grey / brown), 2010. 
Acrylic on wood
. Panel: 30 x 18 inches. Courtesy Haines Gallery
LESLIE SHOWS. Face K2, 2012. 
Ink, acrylic, Plexiglas, Mylar, canvas, crushed glass, metal filings & engraving on aluminum
. 48 x 82 inches. Courtesy Haines Gallery

 

Painters Patsy Krebs and Leslie Shows achieve a mesmerizing effect in different ways. Krebs’ painting of a simple black rectangle surrounded by a gray color field seems to glow from within. Leslie Shows’ renderings of pyrite crystals on aluminum document stunning, naturally occurring forms in a dynamic way.

 

 

CAMILLE UTTERBACK. Untitled 5 from the External Measures Series, 2004. 
Interactive installation (custom software, video camera, computer, projector, lighting)
6’ x 8’ projection and corresponding interaction area
. Ed. 3/3, Courtesy Haines Gallery

 

Camille Utterback’s Untitled 5 (the fifth installation in her External Measures Series) consists of an incredible immersive installation that responds to viewers’ movements within it, effectively involving them in a video game combining painting and interactive art.

 

Poetry is nice, but the success of these works can be attributed as much to their relate-ability as any ethereal language art writers might use to describe them.

 

“Poetics of Construction” is on view until March 23rd at Haines Gallery