Luke Diiorio
dal 3/4/2013 al 10/5/2013
Segnalato da
3/4/2013
Luke Diiorio
Ana Cristea Gallery, New York
Very Similitude. By questioning the roles assigned to form and content, his work poses questions which seem obvious and radical: Under what circumstances do 2 distinct materials operate in harmony?
Ana Cristea Gallery is pleased to present “Very Similitude,” the first solo exhibition by American artist Luke
Diiorio.
Diiorio addresses the physical process of making with an exquisite lyricism that can only be born of artistic
maturity. By questioning the fundamental roles assigned to form, material and content, his work poses
critical questions which seem simultaneously obvious and radical: Under what circumstances do two distinct
materials operate in harmony? In opposition? As one?
Following in the footsteps of artists like Robert Ryman and Blinky Palermo, Diiorio departs from many
preconceived processes. Instead of placing the emphasis on extending the limits that define form and
material, his paintings extend our knowledge and awareness of those limits to produce a more acute
sensitivity and to elicit an intrinsic response to the works. Aluminum, canvas, linen and wood are merely
finite materials; however, the painter’s ability to manipulate our perception of these things extends far
beyond the simplicity of their physicality. Diiorio’s presentation of everyday materials forces us to second-
guess their origin. Many of the works exude a chameleon-like quality.
Diiorio eschews any particular stylistic format because style tends to predetermine, and hence limit, the
composition. Instead, he preserves a provisional aesthetic throughout his process, replacing content and
subject matter with circumstance and intuition. As such, his work comes to fruition from the simple need to
exist, and to express its existence. The studio itself plays an essential role in the creation of his work as his
compositions drift well beyond the surface of the painting and remnants are recycled and appropriated back
into paintings.
Operating upon the philosophy that certain strategies, maneuvers and devices involved in painting often
obstruct our pure ability to perceive, Diiorio’s creations relieve painting of its illusion and narrative. The end
result is a refreshing and rare perceptual freedom. Diiorio begins with the unfamiliar, an undirected creation.
By working from something that he does not quite know how to achieve, he uncovers a result which reflects
a truer reality. Born of the unconscious, the familiar and expected are shuffled. The ensuing aesthetic vision is
a product of accident, negotiation and failure.
Luke Diiorio (b. 1983) was born in Pennsylvania and, currently, lives and works in London. In 2013, he will
graduate from the Royal College of Art in London.
For additional information, please contact Ana Cristea Gallery by phone at (212) 904-1100 or by e-mail at
info@anacristeagallery.com. The gallery is located at 521 West 26th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues
and is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm.
Image: Luke Diiorio, Installation (7 pieces), 2012, oil on canvas, each 48 x 48 (122 x 122 cm)
Reception Opening: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 6-8pm
Ana Cristea Gallery
521 West 26th Street, New York
Hours: from Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm
Free Admission