Prepare yourself for a brilliant show at Hashimoto Contemporary this October! If you’re not already familiar with the work of Seonna Hong you are in for a treat during her solo show ”In our Nature”. Seonna’s work embodies human life, most often the lives of Children in a beautifully emotional way, capturing physical momentum in the events occurring in each painting. Her work draws you into a silent narrative, it is captivating and whimsical. Swirling colours and geometry surround the lives of those captured within these works. I adore the playfulness in this series, depicting nature through Seonna’s own unique style and vision. Seonna will be in attendance on opening night, it would be incredible to view these pieces while in her company!
Seonna Hong ‘In Our Nature’
Opening Reception:
Saturday, October 8, 2016 | 6-8pm
Exhibition Dates:
October 8 – October 29, 2016
Hashimoto Contemporary
804 Sutter Street | San Francisco, CA 94109
For more information, additional images, or exclusive content, please email info@hashimotocontemporary.com
Press Release:
SAN FRANCISCO – Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present “In Our Nature,” a solo show of new paintings by Los Angeles-based artist Seonna Hong. Expanding upon her series of expressionistic landscapes, Hong’s debut solo venture at the gallery consists of ranging acrylic works on canvas, as well as a collection of small paintings on found materials. Hong’s paintings navigate through fragmented realities and unfiltered notions of child-like whimsy. People and animals inhabit rich environments that verge between geometric abstraction and figurative representation. One particular piece, entitled “3 Second Rule”, depicts a boy and girl gathered around something hidden within the flat horizon of color.
The pair is dwarfed by an minimal composition of naturalistic elements, grounding them in a surreal vista. The controlled, yet unaffected gestures of Hong’s landscapes are often achieved through the re-purposing of dried paint. The artist creates this effect by peeling swirls of acrylic from a painted surface and collaging them onto a final piece. The result is a blithe contrast of focus which highlights the dream-like qualities of the work’s narrative. In addition to canvases, “In Our Nature” also features an assortment of small vignettes executed directly on a collection of paint chips.
This playful series experiments with context and resourcefulness, expanding upon the artist’s use of color and depth of field. Hong’s characters wander between the complimentary shades, their compact worlds flowing around the expressive titles of each color. With a strong multi-disciplinary background in fine art and illustration, Hong has gained notable recognition over the years both as a painter and animation production artist. Her unique vision garnered an Emmy Award in 2004 and continues to develop throughout her personal practice. For her new exhibition at Hashimoto, the artist strives to render “bridges of shared experience” between her stories and the viewer.
About the Gallery:
Hashimoto Contemporary is located in San Francisco, CA. Our roster consists of an eclectic blend of new contemporary artists. With monthly rotating exhibitions, our programming focuses on a range of painting, sculpture and installation-based work. You can also visit us at a variety of international art fairs in Miami, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
About the Artist:
Seonna Hong was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated with a B.A. in Art from Cal State University Long Beach and continued to hone her craft teaching art to children. Her paintings are quietly narrative and often autobiographical. In 2004, she received an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Production Design for her work on “My Life as a Teenage Robot.” In 2006, she was the recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. Hong continues to show her work in shows and galleries around the world, such as the notable Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo, Japan.
Bay Sky
Blood Moon
3 Second Rule
Brotherhood of Men
Future Nature
In Our Nature
Inner Body Experience
Soothing Sail
Whisp of He
