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Oolong Gallery Presents:
Encinitas, CA - Oolong Gallery is thrilled to announce the upcoming solo exhibition, [4: 画像:Simulacrum], featuring the innovative and thought-provoking works of artist Hiroshi McDonald Mori. A native of San Diego, Mori recently relocated back home after thirteen years living and working abroad in Berlin, Germany where he produced a large body of salt print, mixed media works on thick aquarelle paper. The works have been shipped overseas to be premiered at Oolong Gallery, located at 687 2nd St, Encinitas, CA 92024, with the opening reception scheduled for February 3, 2024 from 3 - 5 pm.
Hiroshi McDonald Mori's artistic journey is a captivating exploration of material, chemistry, and force, guided by an instinctive trust in desire and a relentless questioning of rationality. In [4: 画像:Simulacrum] Mori delves into the unique process of salt printing, where the interplay of water purity, temperature, pH, UV light concentration, and weather creates variations that mirror the diverse landscapes and moments captured through his lens. Mori's artistic language extends beyond traditional boundaries, framed by his deep contemplation of the world.
Mori's work also draws inspiration from diverse cultural influences, ranging from the post-war artistic movements of Gutai and Bauhaus to ancient crafts and the concept of Japanese iitoko-dori (いいとこ取り), where contradiction is embraced to sustain incompatibilities. The modularity of Mori's salt prints invites active engagement, disrupting conventional viewing experiences and challenging viewers to reassess their perspectives. This intentional disruption is echoed in his commitment to sprezzatura, a studied nonchalance that seeks to balance impact with an understated effort, steering away from the overwhelming labor often associated with the sublime.
Through experimentation and improvisation, Mori seeks to maximize his vocabulary and syntax of material, chemistry, and force. His work embraces an aesthetic that rewards ambivalence and transformation, with the goal of achieving a non-violent iconoclasm. The exhibition's epilogue in the foyer contemplates the concept of Chic, appreciating the ephemeral and acknowledging the power and grace inherent in fleeting moments. [4: 画像:Simulacrum] invites viewers to engage with Mori's unique perspective, questioning the frames that shape their own subjectivity and encouraging a profound consideration of beauty, truth, and change.
Join us for the opening reception on February 3, 2024, at Oolong Gallery with a reception from 3 - 5 pm, where Hiroshi McDonald Mori's [4: 画像:Simulacrum] promises to challenge, inspire, and redefine the boundaries of artistic expression.
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