Installation view. Courtesy of the gallery
Installation view. Courtesy of the gallery.
For “sweat shape: detox vision”, artist Alisa Baremboym has installed both new and existing works to inhabit the peculiar Mid-Wilshire space The Vanity, run by artist Asha Schechter. Upon arrival, I was greeted by both Schecter and Baremboym, and NYC artist Tova Carlin. Before visiting with the artist and her work, we had a short discussion about the space as an alternative to the preoccupation with LA-centrism and the prevalence of regional themes. Most appropriately, the greeting was shortly followed by the arrival of members of the Mountain School and USC’s MFA program from abroad.
Installation view. Courtesy of the gallery
Baremboym’s installation occupies the vanity with a “network” of usb cables and nylon straps that connect and cordon off access to the sculptural pieces. The connected works consist of objects draped in archival prints on silk. In one instance, an unglazed ceramic fold holding an impression of a drain is shrouded in a silk print of itself. The closet is lit from the inside and a sleeveless shirt, made from clear gelled emollient and embedded with plasticized red and pink objects, hangs stiffly from the rack. The work functions loosely within the site as an organic ecosystem of skins and connective strands.
Installation view. Courtesy of the gallery
Baremboym presents an inquiry of reality with multiple depictions of itself. Also evident are relationships of recycled information and images that have seem to have no clear utility. In spite of this, Baremboym uses skin and garments to invoke the idea of discrete boundaries to reality, and limiters to a seeming infinitude of images.
“shape sweat: detox vision” is on view through April 28th, 2013.
-Contributed by Eric Kim
