Clifford Owens at On Stellar Rays opens Sun. 11/2
Clifford Owens
November 2 - December 14, 2008
Opening reception:
Sunday, November 2, 3 - 6 pm
On Stellar Rays
33 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
T: (212) 598 . 3012
From the press release…
Owens plays with the history of conceptual text-based work in Text Piece, which presents a grid of 47 photographs of white text against black. Though the stark formalism might initially suggest more distanced work (Owens’ often-present body is conspicuously absent), closer inspection reveals 47 intimate and personal phrases. The viewer is confronted with “She likes to finger my feelings,” “Mother Baltimore,” and “I thought you were gay.” Here, the conversation is more literal, though it is unclear whether the words are directed at us, the artist, or whether the conversation is happening within the piece.
In Owens’ most recent body of color photographs, the artist explores the uniquely African-Ecuadorian community of the Esmeralda Province, Ecuador. There continues to be a thoughtful exploration of self in the work (Owens’ young son is half Ecuadorian). This is visible though the eyes of the young men Owens encountered in the Esmeraldas, who are looking intensely at Owens in each work. Prelingual, an intimate family portrait taken before his son’s birth, will also be on view.
Clifford Owens Studio Visitis: Skowhegan (William Pope.L), 2004 (detail)
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