At Beyond Baroque through July 28th, Nurit Avesar’s In Your World, gets into your heart.
The astonishing show is somewhat of a departure for Avesar, who says her work is usually personal in nature. She describes this current body of work is as being about global warming, and work that addresses universal issues.
“Instead of painting from memory or internal sensibility, I used photos from the news as referances and read a lot about scientific predictions regarding global warming and environmental changes. The current political situation has affected my work a lot, especially the illogical denial of scientific evidence, the clear lack of leadership and greed that influence politicies, and the refusal to address crisises that we are already experiencing, such as fires, floods and devastating storms.” Avesar adds that she finds painting a way to deal with her frustration and anxiety about the looming changes the world faces. “The work is more somber than earlier work and has urgency to it. I hope that by displaying this body of work, it will help create a platform for a larger audience, and bring up the unpleasant conversation about global warming without turning into a personal attack.”
Avesar’s work has a lustrous and rich quality that draws viewers into a seemingly liquid, motion-filled space. There is a grace and fluidity to her images that transcends the canvas on which she works.
“My new large work is mostly on unstretched canvas, rather than painted on a stretched canvas. It is presented in less formal way. I find it to be more effective because it is more organic. Also, I have introduced some new materials, such as plastic, and wood branches because of their relation to the subject of the environment.”
Avesar says she’d like viewers to engage in a coversation about the environment from seeing her work, and on what we as individuals can do to assist the planet. “During the artist talk, people came up with ideas about what we can do to help improve the environment, such as planting gardens, trees, and demanding changes from our elected leaders, especially local ones. I hope that an exhibition like In Your World can bring about the necessary conversation regarding changes in public and political attitude,” Avesar attests.
The artist says she would like keep creating work about this subject. “I believe that global warming is the biggest issue we are facing. The need to change our energy sources is immense and will bring political struggle. Not addressing it, aside of the ecological and environmental disaster, will bring about wars, large scale migration, and sufferings. In future exhibitions, I would like to include installations as well.” The textural aspects of this new work adds to the resonance of it; future installations would be even more immersive in nature.
Her color palette glows and is lush and dense; vivid without being harsh. Avesar says she recently went through several changes which are reflected in her palette. “I moved to the city, and I am affected by the political environment. Those changes are most likely affecting my palette and texture. Also, the subject matter of fires and floods changes my palette.”
The visceral, beautiful work creates a sense of the fraility of our world and it’s resilliance – if art can save us, it can save the world itself. Start with a look a this artist’s layered work.
Beyond Baroque is located at 681 Venice Blvd., open by appointment and Friday and Saturday, 3-9 and Sunday, 2-5. Free parking. There will be a closing event on Saturday July 27th from 4-6 at the gallery; don’t miss this beautiful and resonant show.