Subliminal Sunlight

Hidenori Iishi, Mark Warren Jacques, Maya Hayuk, Hisham Akira Bharoocha, Jacob Kubizne, Alicia Mccarthy, Chris Johanson, Dalek James Marshall, Markus Linnenbrink

Curated by Howard Hurst

January 7 – February 12, 2012

Subliminal Sunlight is a reflection on contemporary painting. Selected artists explore the contemporary possibilities of abstraction. Heir to a long tradition, artists focus on the transformative potential of the creative impulse. The included artwork explores the sublime, planted firmly within the context of today’s cultural landscape. In an art world where words like “mysticism” and “sublime” are increasingly relegated to the museum and gallery space it is true there is a growing sense of disconnect between painting and contemporary culture.

While art seems more and more like a plaything for the rich, diverse communities have found new locations for self expression and communication. Popular culture, and practices like skateboarding, independent music, and hip hop have risen up as countercultural alternatives to the white walled hygene of the big city museum culture.

Participating artists come from a variety of backgrounds and pursuits, from anime and cinema to punk rock and graffiti culture. Born of dissatisfaction with the “high” sensibilities of modernism, Subliminal Sunlight traces the arc of cultural interest back to abstraction. It is by blurring these distinctions of “high” and “low” that a true conversation may take place, free of false distinctions and institutional trappings.

“Subliminal Sunlight @ #35”, Fecal Face, Howard Hurst, January 27, 2012. Download PDF.