Published in the Weekly Volcano, Dec. 18, 2014
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| "Canned (Sardines)" correctional fluid on canvas by Jean Nagia |
I
don’t know how she does it. Susan Christian, owner of Salon Refu, keeps
discovering artists of note. Or maybe they find her. The latest is Jean Nagia,
an artist completely new to me. He painted the bright, geometric abstract mural
on the side of Salon Refu, and he’s working on a mural for the artesian well
park in Olympia. But what he’s showing in his exhibition is something
completely different: works on paper and fabric in correctional fluid, aka,
whiteout. Yes, that’s right, the stuff we use to use to correct typewriter
mistakes back when we used typewriters.
With
countless little white dots on either black or blue backgrounds, creates
repetitive, sometimes organic and sometimes geometric patterns that in some
cases can be seen as based on nature and in some are purely abstract. They are
intricate, obviously work-intensive, and often hypnotic.
“Shipped”
depicts many fish or eel swimming inside the framing device of an archway.
“Cheers”
is a field of meandering ropes of dots, within which can be seen five masks.
“Mystic
Truths” presents a monolithic rock-like formation of sparkling white dots on a
blue field of watery, loosely brushed paint.
“Channels
3” is a wash of back-and-forth optical illusion.
“Ancient
Vision” is a screen print (one of two in the show) of what appears to be the
ocean at night.
“Canned
(Sardines)” is a humorous title for a painting that looks like a Native
American tapestry depicting five vertical icon-like fish stacked side-by-side —
tightly packed like sardines in a can. Inside of these fish are many
smaller fish linked together like sausages.
“Processed,”
one of my favorites, is a two-panel painting with flowing forms in white on a
dark blue-violet background. Little fish-like forms are herded together at the
juncture of the two canvases with swooping forms that are like hair framing a
face.
Frankly,
these works are of a type I do not usually care for, but as created by Nagai
they are mesmerizing. I particularly like the way he creates an illusion of
space and dark-to-light modulations of tone by spacing the dots closer together
or farther apart.
The
reproduction of one of his works used on the invitation did not look inviting
because these paintings don’t work at that small size. The pieces in the
gallery are larger and work much better. I think they need to be larger still.
Also
happening in the gallery is a large batik project that was just getting
underway when I visited. You will be able to see this project in the works. Christian
said the batik project was her suggestion of a way for Nagai to make these
images much larger. She agrees with me that they need to be larger.
Planned
for Friday evening, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. is a multi-media happening. Details are
sketchy, but it will involve the batik project and gift items, food and drink
and live music.
Salon Refu, Correctional Fluid, Jean Nagai, Tuesday-Saturday,
2- 6 p.m. through Jan. 4,
114
N. Capitol Way, Olympia.
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