Kathryn Andrews, Installation view. Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery
Kathryn Andrews is having her first solo show, “D.O.A. | D.O.B.” (dead on arrival / date of birth) , at David Kordansky, Los Angeles, which will be on view till February 2, 2013. This exhibition is composed of works that explores contemporary culture through referencing movements like pop art and minimalism. She uses fabricated forms and readymades which are combined into works that speak to the cold polished environments we encounter on a daily basis in spaces like banks, hotels, malls, etc. Polished metal surfaces is a recurring texture in the works, which are contrasted by colorful additions of absurd imagery, adding humorous dialogues to the work. When looking at the work it is interesting to think about her process of juxtaposing her selected imagery/objects on such sterile supports that seem reminiscent of a doctors office, or a jail cell. I guess looking back at it, in the cold and cruel world we live in today, it is always nice to have a surprise that brings a smile to your face. One of the works, “Still Life (Woman with Fruit)”, is a great example. At first glance it seems as if Andrews has placed a pile of fruit on top of a form that plainly be a platform of some sort, raising attention to the readymades and their detail. Upon further investigation you learn that you can peer into the platform, where you see a naked woman with images of fruit painted on her body, supporting the fruit on top of her head while she stands in the oversize metal container. It looks incredibly uncomfortable, and all in the name of art. Another work that is worth visiting is “Tot Finder (Winter Varietal)”. It is composed of a stainless steel window frame and set of blinds with an obscure addition of an image of a clown attached haphazardly on the lower half of the piece. Its not a clown that you would hire for your toddler’s birthday party (I don’t think I would ever hire a clown for a kid’s birthday party to be honest), but rather one you would find lurking in an alley after a 2 week heroin binger looking for some extra curricular mischief to get into. I think the title “Tot Finder” explains the intentions of this clown, who resembles a member or fan of the Insane Clown Posse. Find time to visit Kathryn Andrews’ first solo show at David Kordansky, Los Angeles before it closes.
Website Link: http://www.davidkordanskygallery.com/?n=current&eid=77
Still Life (Woman with Fruit), 2012, stainless steel, resin, foam, paint, performance, 85 x 26 x 26 inches (215.9 x 66 x 66 cm). Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery.
Still Life (Woman with Fruit), 2012, (detail) stainless steel, resin, foam, paint, performance. Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery.
Tot Finder (Winter Varietal), 2012, stainless steel, Plexiglas and archival pigment print, 52 x 46 x 3 inches (132.1 x 116.8 x 7.6 cm). Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery.
Tot Finder (Winter Varietal), 2012, (detail) stainless steel, Plexiglas and archival pigment print, 52 x 46 x 3 inches (132.1 x 116.8 x 7.6 cm). Detail. Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery.
-Contributed by Gregory Ito
