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Phenomena

Laura Payne

February 3 @ 10:00 am - April 5 @ 4:00 pm


Phenomena considers the spiritual distinction between organic and synthetic light formations. Composed of structures that signal the “artificial”, such as plastic, aluminum, and LEDs, patterns emerge within each art piece to reveal an organic, abstract language emitted through bulbs and diodes. By drawing connections between natural light phenomena and human-made light technology, the viewer may contemplate what experiences they consider authentic.

Science, technology, and digital media continuously influence the trajectory of Payne’s art practice, concerning the boundaries of simulation, and whether abstraction can become its own reality. Her broader practice consists of painting, sculpture, and electronic media. In Payne’s electronic media works, she is interested in simulating the liminal, ephemeral light observed within natural sky events, such as auroras, rainbows, and eclipses.

Payne started working with light in her practice over a decade ago, when she moved to Saskatchewan, observing the living sky and its capacity to alter the landscape every second of the day. She was also introduced, at this time, to the history of Prairie Modernism, a mid-century Canadian art movement characterized by abstract interpretations of the vast landscape, serene grids, soft gradients, and hardedge composition.

For Modernist pioneers of electronic light art, such as Dan Flavin and Robert Irwin, a work is not created through fabrication, but rather during activation and engagement, employing light as sculpture. Contemporary light artist, James Turrell, uses architectural space to create immersive time-based light compositions. Payne’s interest lies in between these two areas – the capacity to provide a window into another realm; a dimension between object and environment.

Please join us for the Opening Reception on Saturday, February 7 from 1 to 4 pm, with artist remarks at 2 pm.

Details

  • Start: February 3 @ 10:00 am
  • End: April 5 @ 4:00 pm
  • Event Categories: ,

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