George Boorujy at PPOW & Simen Johan at Yossi Milo

I thought it would be fitting for the post directly after Where the Wild Things Are be about exhibits featuring actual wild things. PPOW is currently showing Geoge Boorujy's Migratory Drift while Yossi Milo has Simen Johan's Until the Kingdom Comes on view. Both artists depict wild animals in imagined, bleak landscapes that in actuality, are probably not too far from reality.

New Jersey-born Boorujy "uses a naturalist's eye to depict iconic North American animals and landscapes, presenting a vision of life on the continent that is at once foreign and familiar." While Boorujy's animals initially look realistic and natural, if you look closer, you'll notice that the poor things are mutated, missing limbs, and basically looking seriously bummed out. Boorujy's landscapes "exhibit evidence of change. Not only has the climate and ecology shifted in these places, so has the interaction and behavior of their inhabitants both human and animal." The drawings emit an uneasy vibe and clearly something is off and not quite right in the images. Whether the answer is a negative or positive effect on the evolution of the subjects is left up to the viewer to decide. Learn more at ppowgallery.com and find out more about Boorujy at his website Georgeboorujy.com. Through October 24th.

Until the Kingdom Comes is an ongoing project Norwegian artist Johan started in 2004. Based in New York City since 1992, Johan "depicts a natural world hovering between reality, fantasy and nightmare. Merging traditional photographic techniques with digital methods, Johan's images are crafted over time and may include a synthesis of landscapes from various geographical locations and animals photographed in captivity or in the wild."

Johan's animals are inserted into some pretty ominous-looking environs where they look unnatural and out of place. Johan's photos and sculptures "blur[s] the boundaries between the real and the unreal, re-imagining worlds that, much like our own, are forever a mystery. Majestic animals in fantasy landscapes are set in relief against a darker reality." See more at yossimilo.com and learn more about Johan at his website Simenjohan.com. Through October 31st.

Both shows are sad reminders that our jerky, selfish actions not only effect our lives and surroundings, but ultimately those in the animal kingdom as well.

George Boorujy, Bluebird, 2009