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Claustrophilia is an exhibition now on view through June 25th at the HERE Gallery located at 145 Sixth Ave. Curated by Suzanne Stroebe, the show brings together eleven works from six artists–Cortney Andrews, Angela Basile, Jana Flynn, Lily Koto Olive, and Brittany Prater in five videos, two photographs, and four paintings. |
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Brittany Prater, A Poststructural Exercise Video, 2008. Video. Duration: 07:02. Courtesy of HERE Gallery.
Anatole Ashraf
Claustrophilia is an exhibition now on view through June 25th at the HERE Gallery located at 145 Sixth Ave. Curated by Suzanne Stroebe, the show brings together eleven works from six artists–Cortney Andrews, Angela Basile, Jana Flynn, Lily Koto Olive, and Brittany Prater in five videos, two photographs, and four paintings. The exhibition features artists’ work in multiple mediums–Cortney Andrews has three videos on display, and her photograph, “Desire is a Woman” (2008) graces all promotional materials–showcasing their versatility and strengths in each art form. The artists participating in Claustrophilia see a “lack of space, tight quarters, and close bodies” as an integral part of life in New York City. Indeed, the word “claustrophilia” is defined as “an abnormal desire for confinement in an enclosed space.” The operative word in relation to the exhibition is “abnormal.” Each work invites the viewer to re-examine space, confinement, and perspective in a manner that is at times aggressive, at times removed, and at times simply playful, but never conventional. Although there are paintings on display–especially Escher-esque entries from Jana Flynn–the clear stars of the show are videos from Andrews and Prater. Andrews’ “I Want To Love You” (2011) is a meticulously choreographed statement on gender roles, and the tension created between them, while Prater’s “Stirbt Die Biene” (2010) gives “fly on the wall” an entirely new meaning.
