Laura Owens: Unlocking Surprise, Mystery, and Awe in Artistic Expression

Laura Owens’ Immersive Art: A Journey Through Worlds

Laura Owens’s recent exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery in New York presents a captivating exploration of painting as an immersive habitat.Following her mid-career survey at the Whitney Museum in 2017-2018 and shows at the Fondation Vincent van Gogh in Arles, France, and in Los Angeles, Owens embarks on a journey that blurs the lines between fine art, decoration, folk art, and the delightfully unexpected.

An Invitation to Explore

The exhibition defies conventional gallery experiences. The front desk is not merely a reception area but an interactive installation. “The magic of ‘Fantasia’ and fairy tales has been transported to the gallery,” as visitors interact with sensor-equipped elements, triggering movements and revealing delicately painted handmade books.

Worlds Within Worlds

The first room envelops visitors in beige and neutral-colored canvases that harmonize with owens’s created wallpaper. These paintings nod to Willem de Kooning’s abstract expressionism and Picasso and Braque’s Cubist collages. The trompe l’oeil electrical cords are a humorous touch, a “funny reminder that we’re in New York, not in a country villa.”

Beyond two unmarked doors lies a secret garden, a long room adorned with luminous green and floral wallpaper. Here, medieval tapestries and Monet’s waterlilies blend with a Rococo fantasy reminiscent of Fragonard’s “The Progress of Love” at the Frick Collection. Periodically, miniature doors embedded in the wall reveal miniature paintings.

Avian anthropologists and Tactile Encounters

Another hidden nook reveals a video featuring birds in Los Angeles, transformed into “avian anthropologists, discussing human history.” Their dialogue touches on the eruption of pompeii and the misogyny of ancient cultures, creating a poignant reflection on present-day disasters.

The gallery on 22nd Street offers a contrasting, tactile experience. Five large containers,reminiscent of Fluxus boxes,invite interaction. These “jewelry boxes” are filled with specially printed books, slides from Owens’s father’s collection, and other curiosities, organized around themes such as Nature, Math, Magic, Death, Fraud, and Deception. Visitors can explore manuals for magic, mathematical equations, and maps.

The Doorway to an Ancient Cave

A final room, accessed through a door salvaged from a burned-down house in Altadena, Los Angeles, is awash in swirling patterns and trompe l’oeil tricks.The peach and pink hues evoke an ancient cave or frescoed tomb, creating a sense of being at “the end of the world, inside a gallery in Chelsea.”

A Reflection on Knowledge and Disaster

Owens’s exhibition prompts reflection on the connections between civilizations and our own. The archive of knowledge held within the boxes and wall designs raises profound questions: “What have we really learned? What do we do in the face of disaster, with all the wisdom and skill we have amassed?”

Conclusion: Hope Amidst Quandaries

Laura Owens’s exhibition is a testament to painting as an expandable category, encompassing trickery, sorcery, craft, and labor. It reminds us of our greatest deceptions and translates equations into wallpaper patterns. While the show offers no simple escape from current political and ecological challenges, “it signals hope rather than defeat.In Owens’s universe, doors open into other worlds, and magic and beauty surround us.”

Explore the immersive world Laura Owens has created. Visit Matthew Marks Gallery to experience this captivating exhibition firsthand.

What elements of Laura Owens’ exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery contribute to its immersive qualities?

Immersive Art: A Conversation with Dr. Amelia Stone on Laura Owens’ Exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery

Laura Owens’ recent exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery in New York is generating buzz for its innovative and immersive approach to art. We sat down with Dr. Amelia Stone, an art historian specializing in contemporary installations, to delve deeper into the exhibition’s themes and impact.

Exploring the Worlds Within: An Interview with Dr. Amelia Stone

Archyde: Dr. Stone, thank you for joining us.Laura Owens’ exhibition is being described as “immersive.” Can you elaborate on what makes it so different from a typical gallery experience?

Dr. Stone: absolutely. What’s striking about Owens’ work here is her complete change of the gallery space. It’s not just about hanging paintings on walls; it’s about creating an environment. The interactive front desk, the hidden rooms, the specially designed wallpaper – it all contributes to a cohesive world that invites exploration and interaction, blurring boundaries between the artwork and the visitor’s experience.

De Kooning to avian Anthropologists: Decoding the Influences

Archyde: The exhibition seems to draw on a wide range of references, from Willem de Kooning to medieval tapestries and even birds acting as anthropologists. How do these diverse elements come together in Owens’ vision?

Dr.Stone: Owens is incredibly adept at weaving together seemingly disparate sources. The abstract expressionism of de Kooning, the whimsy of Rococo art, the commentary from the “avian anthropologists” – they all point to a dialog about history, knowledge, and our place in the world. She’s using these references to question what we’ve learned and how we respond to challenges, both historical and contemporary. The humor, like the trompe l’oeil electric cords, adds another layer, reminding us of the artifice and the real world concurrently.

Tactile Encounters and the Archive of Knowledge

Archyde: The “jewelry boxes” filled with books and curiosities sound particularly intriguing.What’s the significance of making art so tactile and engaging in this way?

Dr. Stone: The jewelry boxes invite physical interaction, moving us beyond passive observation. By incorporating these accessible items, Owens allows visitors to literally handle knowledge. Themes like Nature, Math, Magic, and Deception become tangible. This tactile engagement reinforces the exhibition’s central question: How do we grapple with the vast archive of human knowledge, especially in the face of present-day crises?

Hope and Reflection in a Chelsea Gallery

Archyde: Despite the weighty themes, the exhibition is also saeid to offer a sense of hope.How does Owens achieve this balance?

Dr. Stone: Even amidst reflections on disaster and deception, Owens’ use of vibrant colors, playful patterns, and the sense of finding within the exhibition creates an atmosphere of possibility. The “doors opening into other worlds” that the reviewer mentioned is key. it’s a reminder that art can provide a space for both critical reflection and imaginative escape. Ultimately, the exhibition suggests that even in a world grappling with complex problems, beauty and wonder still exist.

Engage with Art: What Does Immersive Art Mean to You?

Archyde: Thank you, Dr. Stone. This has been incredibly insightful. For our readers, we’d like to pose a final question inspired by Owens’ work: What elements make an art experience truly immersive for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!