An exhibition of new work by Kyle Thurman will feature a group of process-based paintings made with pigment reclaimed from dyed flowers, and sculptures of wooden wind chimes stripped of their function. The artist’s first solo exhibition, which takes decision-making and its relationship to the construction of works as its primary theme, will open at 41 Orchard Street on Sunday 23 June from 6-8pm.
The paintings are part of an ongoing project that began with Thurman questioning the intents and results of individuals or companies that artificially dye naturally beautiful flowers. This inquiry led to the development of an idiosyncratic painting technique in which the artist boils the dyed petals in water to reconstitute the artificial pigment from a deli-stand bouquet of colored daisies. Using the flower as both the subject of the composition and the means of its execution, the reclaimed dye is then sprayed over the dried petals, which act as stencils by masking the raw canvas. The reddish-pink, pattern-like compositions are then stretched around the edge of the support; as a result of their all-over nature they allude to industrially produced textiles.
Thurman’s renditions of the classic wind chime lack their requisite sound-making pipes. Thus the striking wooden components of the chime silently hang, neutered of their presupposed purpose. These chime-less sculptures, akin to the paintings hanging alongside, are propositions that address the qualities and conditions of reverence and irreverence, presence and absence.
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