Melrose - Curated by Juanita Lanzo, a broad spectrum of work that fosters renewal was featured in the Longwood Gallery's exhibition Observed, Imagined and Recreated.  All of the work in the show is beautiful but three of the artists that captured my attention were Sonjie Feliciano-Solomon, Hong Sean Jang and Heeseop Yoon.

Sonjie Feliciano-Solomon used enamel paint on Plexiglas to create three paintings displayed together to form a triptych—Untitled 20–Water Series, Untitled 21–Water Series and Untitled 25–Water Series.  These charcoal-colored abstract paintings appeared to be photographs with droplets of water clinging to them with shadows that moved the viewer to inspect it at many angles doubting the possibility that the work was completely flat.  Each work has a unique structure, but Untitled 25-Water Series seemed to be more of a web-like pattern.

In Fungus, Hong Sean Jang utilizes recyled and cut magazine pages to create the type of fungi you would see growing on trees in the woods.  It's location in the corner near the entrance of the gallery gives the illusion of a pathway to the elusive array of work in the show.  It's definitely an interesting use of a material that is constantly being viewed, scrutinized and recycled much like the mold it represents.

Two works created by Heeseop Yoon give new meaning to stencils and cameos with his large intricately detailed mylar cutouts.  The Met—a full-sized depiction of a sculpture-like figure—hangs on the wall with ghost-like fashion and fragility.  The female figure represented in the work is leaning on a column as they both rest on a large platform which seems covered by material.  Yoon’s other work, The Woodshop, is an even larger piece features a depiction of the interior of a woodworking space.  A viewer can almost pass by these works that seem to float against the wall, but are slowly made aware by the shadows created by the lights nearby.

Featured Artists:  Golnar Adili, Melissa A. Calderon, Cecile Chong, David Antonio Cruz, Sonjie Feliciano-Solomon, Laura Gadson, Florencio Gelabert, Lisa Iglesias, Hong Seon jang, Tamara Kostianovsky, Jason Lujan, Kimberly Mayhorn, Algernon Miller, Annysa Ng, Shani Peters, Lina Puerta, Heeseop Yoon

By Xavier Figueroa

Editor, photographer, writer and founder of Bronx Art Guide

Xavier Figueroa's website