Adjacent to the William H. Mortrnson exhibit; An American Grotesque, is a showing by Rik Garrett
and Lu Zhang, two photographers that pair perfectly with the occult and
ethereal aesthetic flowing throughout all four current exhibits.
Exploring historical and personal relationships between witchcraft, femininity and nature. Photographed using the wet plate collodion
process.
 | |
| Rik Garrett "Earth Magic" |
“With Earth Magic I’ve envisioned a
matristic, nature-based world; a female-centric, ritualistic community
completely apart from the rest of society. This is a history of
“witchcraft” devoid of “witch hunts”, a race of women who draw their
energy and inspiration from the Earth itself. What if there were a truth
to the myths of Amazons and the books like Aradia, Gospel of the
Witches? What if the fierce Maenads of Greek mythology still existed
today, hidden from view? What if these truths were presented
faithfully?” - Rik Garrett
Chinese artist Lu Zhang. Lu's photographic
and video performance works are based on her nostalgia and longing for
the covert shamanic practices of her homeworld, which she uses to
exorcise herself of unwanted excess emotional attachments and baggage.
Lu Zhang will be presenting a series of photographic and video works
entitled "All The Lost Souls" which is an attempt to conjure through
memory, ritual, unleashing of sexual energies as well as through a
detachment from all thing that bind us to our past (such as home,
family, relations) the spirits that dwell in the landscape of our
ecosystem as well as the spirits of the inner landscape.
 |
| Lu Zhang "All Lost Souls" |
"I am interested in disclosure universal human nature through
investigating the relationship, the cultural conflicts and the curiosity
of spiritual existence, both politically and personally. I photograph
and videotape myself as an object, and reveal hopes out of the
traumatized relationships and experiences. My work becomes a dreamland
where I can accept the reality. In the Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche is
saying, the world is full of tragedy. Art is the only thing can save
people." - Lu Zhang
Rik Garrett "Earth Magic"
and
Lu Zhang "All Lost Souls"
► Oct 20th - Nov 30th
DUMBO,
BROOKLYN, NY
