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Nika Blasser
Vessels and Voids: Meeting Light Matter
July 5- 27, 2024
JOIN US SATURDAY, JULY 20 AT 1:00 p.m. FOR A CYANOTYPE DEMO AND MAKE-AND-TAKE ACTIVITY WITH NIKA.
In Vessels and Voids: Meeting Light Matter, my work explores the interplay of positive and negative spaces through a range of processes that celebrate light, materials, and the body. In this show I use drawing, printmaking, and photographic elements to work with materials as a metaphor for memory.
I have an ongoing interest in the intermingling of a mediating hand with the reclamations made by the forces of nature. Several processes in this show invite collaboration with elemental forces, such as gravity, wind, and evaporation, as part of the image-making.
The life-sized cyanotypes use a historic photographic process characterized by its iconic deep blue color. My cyanotypes use a deceptively simple photographic process in an uncommon way. I take advantage of the material itself, leaving folds and creases in the light-sensitive fabric, which become part of the image when exposed. Cyanotypes develop in water, and many of these were created in snow or rain, conditions which also become part of the image. In some instances, you can see where my hands melted snow and began developing the image first. In other images, you may notice multiple exposures, wind, or tiny snowflakes. These cyanotypes hold a visual memory of their shape—time and place inscribed into the fiber of their being.
The Saltwater Shadow Hands series uses hypersaline solution and pigment on paper, resulting in crystallized fractals as the water evaporates. The hand shapes are from the shadows of various people—artists, and writers from residencies, as well as my own shadow. I have left the distortions and some warping that happens in the shadows; each is simultaneously archetypal and unique. Most of the crystallized paper was work that I made for an exhibition in Denmark six years ago—no hands—just pure abstraction with pigments, inks, and snowy-looking salt crystals. I’ve started cutting those pieces up, and they are taking on new lives.
The braille drawings are a very recent series that are a riff on my “gravity drawings,” where I used the force of gravity as a mark-making device. I started these braille drawings in June, spelling out variations on “love is love.” These drawings focus on a universal message emphasizing the strength of love and acceptance.
Through these works, I aim to highlight the beauty and mystery of nature and human connections, offering viewers an experience that is both thought-provoking and visually captivating. My art is a testament to the continuous transformation and interplay of elements, both natural and human-made, creating an ever-evolving narrative.
Save the Date!
Thursday, August 8, 2024 we open Contemporary Asian and Asian American Artists from the Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation.
Join us as we unveil this amazing collection of works on paper from a diverse range of artists.
