ARTLAB21 to exhibit “BEYOND THE SURFACE” at Bergamot Station

Written by rubin Wednesday, 04 March 2009 01:12

Los Angeles, CA – Hit the road and where will it take you? For three emerging German artists, it’ll be “Beyond the Surface,” a new exhibition of paintings and objects to be featured at artlab21 at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. The Beyond the Surface exhibit will be the culmination of an artistic journey from Germany to the California coast. The opening reception of Beyond the Surface on May 16, 2009 at 5:00pm at artlab21, 2525 Michigan Avenue, T1, Bergamot Station, Los Angeles.  On view may 9th through June 6th, 2009.

The inspirational journey preceding the Beyond the Surface exhibition is being arranged and sponsored by Eva Z. Sweeney and Brian A. Sweeney, the founders of artlab21, in cooperation with Sarah Lee Artworks and Projects of Santa Monica.  An architect and entrepreneur, respectively, the Sweeney’s idea for the road trip was inspired by similar ventures of artists since the 15^th Century.  For example, Paul Klee who, in 1914, embarked with two friends on a two-week study of Tunisia that left an indelible mark on his work.  Also, Albrecht Dürer’s work would have never reached international recognition and admiration without his journey to Italy.  artlab21 is continuing the historic example.

The Sweeney’s goal is to afford the artists a collaborative experience and fresh inspiration.  The trip will take in Sequoia National Park; Chinatown in San Francisco; a tour of William Randolph Hearst’s castle at San Simeon; and the cultural scene in Los Angeles.  The artists will end their trip at the above noted reception at artlab21 at Bergamot Station, where their art will be on display.

The artlab21 artists, who challenge our perspective on reality, are painter Michael Sistig, sculptor Amely Spötzl , and painter So Young Park:

• Michael Sistig speaks from the soul and paints from the wisdom therein. His style is based on the fertile ground of sharp introspection from someone who can see beyond the façade of our time to find the inner image many are looking for. He is a painter of silent revolution – eschewing the clamor of protest, he plots careful revolt that brings things to light selectively rather than all at once. He finds his inspiration through old mythologies and legends and is searching, by painting, for contemporary meaning.  In his work time overlaps and we have to reconsider ourselves.

• Amely Spötzl finds material for her work in fields, forests and meadows.  Simple enough – yet the first-time viewer is never quite sure if what is created is “real.” She is able to sense the beauty of nature and disconnect it from its context, for instance, boysenberry bushes arranged as delicate sculpture or the weightlessness of dandelions captured in time.  Her work achieves a specific element of nature not only separate but also physically disassociated from its meaning, resulting in art of astounding effect.  In her hands, the exhibited objects create a new level of understanding and cognitive recognition for things of everyday life.  It’s nature seen through a fresh lens, and with a fresh eye.

So Young Park is a native of Seoul, South Korea and former master student of Daniel Richter and Robert Lucander.  Park’s work loosely mixes colors and structures to find their shape and form “from the outside.” With specific application of color and often based on drawings, the result is a beautiful ambivalence of coincidence and calculation, as well as lightness that is unexpected. Planning, play and always a childlike inventiveness are revealed.