Hiraki Sawa's installation O immerses viewers in a serene, dreamy environment that "abstracts the notion of time by the simultaneous depiction of interior and exterior spaces, meditations on the moon and the earth, and suggestions of the present and distant past," (from show's press release). On view at the James Cohan Gallery, the sound and video installation consists of three large-scale projections displaying beautiful images of vast landscapes and ocean scenes, flocks of flying birds, and the interior of an unoccupied house accented with the artist's animations of birds, a moon, a ferris wheel, and a rustling tree. Ten small monitors scattered throughout the darkened main gallery play black-and-white videos of everyday items like a bell, cup, mug, pitcher, lightbulb, and top spinning around and around as if possessed by an otherwordly force. All the trance-like imagery is hauntingly punctuated by audio emanating from custom-built speakers. Created by the Organ Octet, minature organs soundtrack the larger projections while the sounds of tinny or ceramic objects whirling on hard surfaces accompany the smaller screens.
The Japanese-born, London-based Sawa's elegant and meditative work converys both natural and supernatural elements, creating an enchanting and mesmerizing atmosphere. Learn more at Jamescohan.com. Through March 26th.
O, 2009
O, 2009
O, 2009
O, 2009
O, 2009
O, 2009
O, 2009
O, 2009
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