It's a Really Small World. In her current body of work Uekawa chose to utilize a more dramatic and complex palette in addition to quadrupling the size of any of her previous paintings. In one large painting an all-encompassing woman is holding herself up while intertwined in an opulent chandelier.
The Kravets/Wehby Gallery is pleased to announce It's a Really Small
World, a solo exhibition exhibition of new paintings by Aya Uekawa
opening on Thursday, October 16 with a reception for the artist from
6-8 pm and running through December 6, 2008.
In her current body of work Aya Uekawa chose to utilize a more
dramatic and complex palette in addition to quadrupling the size of
any of her previous paintings. In one large painting an
all-encompassing woman is holding herself up while intertwined in an
opulent chandelier. Her forearm is enlarged to sustain the weight of
her own body. Aya utilizes a broad array of cultural legends and
myths, incorporating the ideas into a situation in which ethnicity is
largely ambiguous. The figures represent Aya's vision as a woman in a
society that is both protective and restrictive. The expressions of
each figure imply a mixed psyche of comfort and insecurity in both
Eastern and Western societies.
Aya Uekawa was born in Japan and currently lives in New York. This
will be her second solo show at Kravets/Wehby Gallery. Last year she
had a solo show at Arndt and Partner in Berlin. Her work was recently
included in "Making a Home" curated by Eric Shiner at the Japan
Society in New York and "The Incomplete" at the Chelsea Art Museum in
New York. Her work is currently included in “Wall Rockets” curated by
Lisa Dennison at Flag in New York. She was recently featured in W
Magazine as well as in Newsweek Japan, Vogue Nippon and Marie Claire
Japan. She will have her fist solo museum show in May 2009 at the
Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati.
Opening reception: Thursday, October 16, 6-8pm
Kravets/Wehby Gallery
521 West 21st Street - New York
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11-6 pm
Free admission