Media Contact:
Timothy Brown
Hillyer Director
hillyerdirector@artsandartists.org
PRESS RELEASE
“Newly Selected Artists: Emily Francisco, Magdolene Dykstra, and Katherine Burling,” August 5–August 27, 2023. The opening reception is Friday,
August 4, 2023 (“First Friday”), 6 to 8 p.m.
Emily Francisco | Magdolene Dykstra | Katherine Burling
Emily Francisco
A Brief Study of Time
The present does not depend on a notion of duration, because of the relativity and volatility it possesses. It exists only in the now and never begins or ends.
The beginning of the present is located in the idealized future, that immediately turns into the now, and then vanishing into the past. The Present is relative, volatile and unattainable.
This explains its non-existence. – C. M. Lawrence
A brief study of time attempts to measure the present moment in flawed increments. Constructed around a malfunctioning West German pendulum clock, the concept of time is presented and amplified through imperfect and irregular sequences–looping sound and light with elements triggered by movement and interaction with objects within the space. Responding to C. M. Lawrence’s essay of the same name.
Magdolene Dykstra
In the Shadow of Empire
This exhibition investigates a key component of the architectural language of empire. Columns convey the hierarchical nature of the socio-political structure they represent. Rather than conveying a sense of stability and power, Dykstra’s interpretations are tenuous. The series of drawings feature columns that balance unsettlingly close to the horizon’s edge. Their long shadows are a nod to the question posed by Grace Lee Boggs & Jimmy Boggs: “What time is it on the clock of the world?” In the sculptural interpretations, Dykstra uses an aesthetic of microbiology to visualize the multiplicity of the human species. Composed of unfired clay and mixed media, these structures are impermanent, ready to be deconstructed and reconfigured. Do these accretive forms support the fragile sub-structure or threaten it with its mass? In contrast to viewing impending collapse as a negative end, Dykstra views collapse as a necessary step toward accessing the potential for transformation. This exhibition asks: how can we cannibalize the remnants of our falling empires to create more sustainable systems that shift away from hierarchical relations?
Katherine Burling
Slip Quietly Into My Arms
Slip Quietly Into My Arms presents a selection of multimedia works on paper which imagine a world in which humankind, rather than Nature, plays Master Engineer. In this colorful reverie, Nature is no longer capable of properly sustaining itself, and humans intervene with mechanical, spiritual and fantastical solutions. From this idea, dystopian machines spring forth; machines without which plants cannot grow. Actors take the stage, playing roles not meant for them. The work is often set in gardens, mechanical or not, which play various roles: the fantastical landscape, the futile garden, or the hortus conclusus (enclosed garden). Unlike its medieval namesake, however, this hortus conclusus conceals hidden dangers, and the illusion of safety is pierced. The language of sentiment and kitsch is at play, and it intersects in curious ways with the animals; sentiment and violence are compressed into the same plane, an echo of our relationship with the natural world.
Exhibition Content
Visit Hillyer’s upcoming exhibitions to learn about the featured artists.
Image Credits (Left to Right):
Emily Francisco (left), A Brief Study of Time (detail), 2023, Installation (pendulum clock, cctv cameras, cctv microphones, lcd projector, monitors, motion + light + sound sensors, dmx controller, dmx lights, speakers, mixers, amplifiers, media players, memory boxes, miscellaneous hardware and wiring), variable; Magdolene Dykstra (middle), Column (detail), 2023, unfired clay & mixed media, 108in x 18in x 18in, photo credit: courtesy of the artist; Katherine Burling, They Thought They Could Build Mechanical Gardens (detail), 2023, mixed media on paper, 30”H x 24”W.
International Arts and Artists at Hillyer
Founded in 2006, IA&A at Hillyer (formerly Hillyer Art Space) is the Washington-area initiative of International Arts & Artists. Through its innovative and often provocative exhibitions and public programs, IA&A at Hillyer champions local and international artists at all stages of their careers.IA&A at Hillyer collaborates with artists, cultural organizations, and embassies to develop and host creative, thought-provoking programs that push our understanding and reflect the uniqueness of DC as an international capital. Whether you live in Washington or are visiting, IA&A at Hillyer invites you to encounter contemporary art from the US and around the world in a welcoming, and intimate gallery setting.Hillyer is open Tue-Sun from 12p – 6p (5p on weekends).