Date/Time
11/09/2024 - 01/31/2025
Location
https://www.techneartcenter.com
TECHNE is proud to present “Primal Instincts”, a group show curated by Chuck Thomas and Jason Clay Lewis featuring artists Kaori Fukuyama, Eva Struble, Irén Tété, John Britton Hogan, Jesse Ring, Kelly Witmer, Michael Hernandez, and Hannah Pierce, as well as artists from the BEVERLY’S collective including Leah Dixon, Jack Henry, Maxx Wade, Tadashi Adamson, Morgan Mandalay, Jesus Antonio, and Maddie Butler.
“Primal instincts” features artworks that are characterized by the most fundamental aspects of human nature. The first thing one notices are the deep relation to process and materiality. The works present simple yet striking motifs that resonate on both personal and cultural levels. An underlying theme of primordial beginnings are overtly and overwhelmingly represented. In their own way, each artist alludes to the broader ramifications of the primal act of creation that is fundamental to all humanity.
The captivating scale and often visceral quality of the works transform the gallery into entirely new experiences. Both process and temporality are prominently featured and actively engaged. The gallery as a whole exists in a perpetual state of evolution, inviting viewers to observe singular moments of wonder and delves into the fundamental essence of art, exploring its core components: form, color, perspective, and light.
Numerous references to formidable forces abound, including themes of nature, the landscape, motherhood, fertility, architecture, and the climate. The individual installments prompt us to reflect on our origins and our place in the world. In particular, the paintings and sculptures are rich in sensuality and engage with cultural history while awakening a primal essence inherent in the human experience.
The artists featured are drawn to shapes, materials, and ideas that are evocative, existing in a realm that straddles reality, dreams, and potentiality. Many of the artworks serve as a contemplation of both tangible and imagined time. Captivated by the fantastic realms that the forms evoke, there exists a duality; symbolizing repressed emotions or memories that are deeply buried. The surreal and vibrant landscapes establish a distinctive and lively foundation for both enchantment and surprise. The outcomes surpass mere representation, offering a nuanced opportunity to explore broader ecological issues, and our connection to the natural world.
Through these primal urges we strive to fulfill our most basic needs, such as the desire for belonging, security, a sense of home, sensual fulfillment, and the quest for purpose and enjoyment. All our motivations for existence are rooted in these elements. Our base instincts represent the fundamental elemental force of life, reflecting an early phase in our evolutionary development. When discussing evolution, discussions often center around four fundamental instincts that both animals and humans have evolved to possess: fighting, fleeing, feeding, and mating.
The concept that life forms emerged from non-living substances can be traced back to Ancient Greek philosophy, specifically through the theory of spontaneous generation. Aristotle stated that not only do animals emerge from other animals, but also that living organisms originate from inanimate matter. This concept persisted as the prevailing explanation for the origin of life from ancient times through the Renaissance. In modern movie terms, Jeff Goldblum said it best, “Life finds a way.”
Works in this exhibition reveal that since the beginning of time, we have had a natural basic instinct to recall and imbue forms that explore the mysteries presented in the human experience.
TECHNE is an artist-run gallery in Oceanside, San Diego that amplifies the voices of committed artists working in diverse media from around the world. With one of the most impressive exhibition spaces in North County, TECHNE has quickly become one of most dynamic art destinations in the greater San Diego area.
By Jason Clay Lewis