PLASTIC FANTASTIC

PLASTIC FANTASTIC comprises innovative current sculptures and bas-reliefs focusing on the use of tangible synthetic new media such as plastics, epoxies, and the like to create an abstracted and futuristic art that stylistically draws on many sources; from current industrial design to modernism in general. The curatorial selection of works and artists featured in this exhibition is primarily cohesive for a common science fiction aesthetic and not for the medium(s) alone. But these materials do avail unique effects, so it's a bit of a “chicken or the egg” scenario. The sheer physicality of the molded and/or machined resins (plastics) and rubbers is impressive, and this show is unique partly because the popularity of these materials among many artists remains tempered by potential health hazards as well as the daunting learning curve involved in mastering the requisite temperamental and unforgiving processes. Many projects will require multi million dollar mass production facilities that are generally out of reach to the individual artist. The corporate-scale production costs for a single prototype can be staggering.

Christopher Chambers
Plant Life, five bouquets
cast pigmented polyurethane resin, 2006    

One answer is the manipulation or otherwise recontextualization of prefabricated components– “found objects.” Bruce Moore and Jean Blackburn take full advantage of the cheap impression plastic elicits in our throw-away, consumer society. It is an amusing reversal, a sort of neo Arte Povera for the new century. To the other extreme, Doreen McCarthy painstakingly designs her inflated translucent forms using digital graphics programs, and outsources short run fabrication to cost effective factories both domestic and overseas.

Bernd Naber
Rolled Piece (s)
acrylic-paint, with plaster, expanded foam with aluminum mesh; 2006

Bernd Naber and Felipe Cortes Clopatofsky are the “painters” of the group, although Naber's paintings are in this case sculptures – he uses acrylic paint as a three dimensional medium to create objects rather than images; Clopatofsky paints in the traditional sense of a picture on canvas: he renders images of plastic dolls and other objects encased in a chrysalis of resinous membranes. Each artist's approach redefines the meeting point of mode and materiality, reflecting on our stilted utopian progress and ignites imaginings of things to come as art.

- CHRISTOPHER CHAMBERS

David Fried
Stemmer No. 5 & No. 7
Solid Cast Urethane, Paint; 2006

Felipe Cortes Clopatofsky

Doreen McCarthy
Between Walls
Inflated Vinyl; 1996

Ben Beaudoin

Peter Soriano
Orange Transport
polyester, resin, bag strap; 2001