Consciousness Of Abstraction II

ARC Gallery

Chicago | Illinois | USA

23 Jun, 2022 - 16 Jul, 2022

The terms 鈥淎bstraction鈥� or 鈥淎bstract Art鈥� are perhaps among the most common references describing particular way(s) of understanding and perceiving the cosmic and daily realities in which we find ourselves. (We might note, too, that the terms are often mis-applied as though they are necessarily in opposition to 鈥淩ealism鈥� or 鈥淩ealistic Art鈥�.) The truth is, however, that the abstract art 鈥渕ovements鈥� of late 19th and early 20th century (Impression, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism, etc.) were driven by a passion to get closer to the complex realities of nature and human condition, not depart from them. Later, Minimalism, Neo-Dada, Geometric Abstraction, Conceptualism, Art Povera and other developments continue this 鈥淏ig Bang鈥� inquiry. Put simply, 鈥淩ealism in Art鈥� could no longer be described as an explicit fidelity to direct, observed, experience. This basic axiom remains, arguably, just as valid today: Reality is often far beyond simple, static appearance and can be highly counter-intuitive. Over the decades, the concepts of Relativity, Quantum Theory and the advent of photography 鈥� among many other ideas 鈥� have helped clarify, how and why this is so. Abstraction, of course can be many different things, driven by many different principles and suppositions: some conscious, some intuitive.

We opened our original 鈥淐onsciousness of Abstraction鈥� exhibition, in March 2020, and it was cut short because of COVID. We had a wonderful response to this call for work, and we are now presenting 鈥淐onsciousness of Abstraction II鈥� with the same outstanding juror. Please join us in celebrating this very important genre.