EXHIBITION

Less Obvious Invasions

Lazy Susan Gallery, New York, New York, 10/19/2016 - 10/25/2016

Lazy Susan Gallery 191 Henry Street New York, NY

ABOUT

Through her art, Odele longs to inspire observers to engage in a deeper analysis of both themselves and the world that surrounds them. She employs her energy and artistic abili- ty with the intent of breaking down cultural barriers and social constructs, by asking the public to examine otherwise common scenarios through different perspectives. Although her art comes to life in a variety of formats, she believes the crucial component must al- ways remain the viewer’s interpretations. As such, this exhibit would not be complete without you, the audience, and your opinions. Her multifaceted projects include 3D sculptures, animals, naked bodies and even Ikea chairs. Her passion for animals prompts her to immortalize them in her art. She observes them both in their natural habitats, and reinvents them invading human spaces.While experiencing a great variety of materials, Odele’s ultimate language still lies in painting itself.

Odele has travelled extensively since childhood. Although she believes her biography should be recounted through means of her art, Odele’s exposure to many different cul- tures prompted her curiosity about the human condition. In her previous work, she ex- amined the relationships between animals and man-made creations. Aspects of ordinary life such as urban spaces and common objects are juxtaposed with wild beasts and their prowess in her paintings.

In this new stage of artistic development, Odele explores the animalistic behaviors of humans themselves. What do we become when stripped of our carefully constructed so- cial norms and artificial behaviors? How do our primal instincts and sensuality still guide us through life? How do humans and animals both behave in their nakedness? Odele’s new paintings stimulate the audience to come up with their own answers.

The piece “Primal Beats” portrays the beauty of human interactions. Both man and woman engage with each other using their bodies and primal instincts. The couple re- mains relaxed and respectful as the man serenades his partner with music. The drumbeat represents the primal form of communication between individuals, and much like the paintings themselves, it is the link between what one feels and what one expresses to the outside world. The vivid colors allude to the presence of nature, and its importance to the wild man. The sensuality the work transpires shows both the tranquility and ferocity of humans in their natural state.

Such themes are also present in “Bison ate the Ideas”, in which the beauty of the land- scape is connected to the living creatures who inhabit it. Cherry blossoms are often planted by humans and organized in calculated fashion to create a artificial sensation for humans. The bison here represent the “invasion” of wildness in a planned and controlled environment. The bisons eat the flowers planted by men and therefore modify their cre- ation or “ideas”. Thus, it seems no matter how much control humans want to exert over the natural world, their efforts always prove to be in vain.

APT ARTISTS ON VIEW

Odele Zhang

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