May 30-June 13, 2019

Reception Friday, May 13 from 7-9 PM

 

Amos Eno Gallery is pleased to present Material Elements, an exhibition of new works by Chris Esposito. An opening reception will be held on Friday, May 31 from 7-9 PM at the gallery's location at 56 Bogart St.

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In Material Elements, Esposito continues his exploration of geometric abstraction through familiar materials in wall works and sculpture. The title refers to the raw materials that are permitted to remain identifiable throughout a meticulous construction process.

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Collecting and preserving found materials aligns the work of Arte Povera and Dada art movements while holding fast to the material life of workday objects. Elevating humble materials to Fine Art highlights the latent meaning in the objects around us and proffers a rejection of all that is shiny and new.

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The forms in the exhibition present Esposito's art historical engagement with Kazimir Malevich, reflecting current political and cultural situations in subtle metaphorical ways. As culture has become increasingly obsessed with the image on social media etc., he has stopped working with images entirely. Instead, handcrafted geometric forms produce meaning more directly, asking viewers to question what is valued and what is wasted. Works in the exhibition present an apotheosis of materials that makes us wonder; where does value originate?

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Chris Esposito has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States as well as internationally. He is an adjunct member of the painting faculty at Queens College CUNY, an active participant in The Imaginary Archive, and one half of the art collaborative Damfino.

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Image: Chris Esposito, "Material Elements 19" Mixed media.