Estates of the Splendrous and Secret by Alex McLeod
VIEW AVAILABLE WORKS ONLINE
Alex McLeod, Glass Rainbow Forest, c-print, 40 x 60 inches, Ed. 1/1, 2010
Artist's Reception: Friday, September 3, 2010 from 8 p.m. 'til late
Free and open to the public
Sound art by Matt Davignon
Alex McLeod (b. 1984) constructs three-dimensional environments that investigate the tension between illusionary and physical space. His CGI prints of diorama-like environments are hallucinogenic visions projected into utopian realms, thus addressing and exploring issues of ecology, sustainability, and connectivity. Weaving together scientific theory with fantasy, folklore, and notions of the Romantic, McLeod generates images that are at once as seductive and lustrous as they are urgent and vital.
Close inspection of McLeod's structures reveal that although a population is largely hidden, life remains extant and is manifested in observable transmutations throughout his compositions, distilled into snapshot-like photo compositions. Despite abundant optimism and exuberance, the images bear a mysterious and sometimes sinister quality that serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and fragility of life. They defy extinction, constantly in a state of renewal.
The worlds that McLeod pieces together are environmentally refined. They are visualizations of the future that encourage consideration of our own world's precious resources and promote the examination of our own existence to allow the furthering of life.
Estates of the Splendrous and Secret is a new series of work commissioned by Anno Domini Gallery in conjunction with the 2010 01SJ Biennial. This is Alex's debut solo exhibition in the United States.
01SJ Biennial hours:
Thursday, September 16, 2010 from Noon - 7 p.m.
Friday, September 17, 2010 from Noon 'til Midnight
Saturday, September 18, 2010 from Noon - 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Alex McLeod lives and works in Toronto, Canada. He has exhibited internationally and has been featured on countless blogs, including that of rapper Kanye West. He has been included in two recent museum exhibitions: Empire of Dreams at MOCCA (Toronto, Canada) and ROJO ®NOVA at MIS (Sao Paulo, Brazil.)
Exhibition dates: September 3 - October 16, 2010
Part of the South FIRST FRIDAYS monthly art walk, September 3, 2010. View the full schedule of exhibitions at participating venues:
http://www.southfirstfridays.com
