Joe Bloom’s first solo exhibition at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, titled "Commemorations," invites art enthusiasts into a realm where the sacred act of tribute is both revered and scrutinized. Bloom's newest series of paintings delve deep into the intricacies of memorialization, questioning not only the methods but also the motivations behind our need to preserve moments from our lives and history. Suspended in mid-air, giant stained-glass orbs illuminate the gallery, each one serving as a luminous meeting point and a symbol of occasion. These orbs, rendered with meticulous detail and a touch of spontaneity, embody a striking balance between light and shadow, fragility and strength.
Central to this exhibition is "A Fruitless Bounty?", a mesmerizing large-scale piece that encapsulates Bloom’s duality of precision and chaos. The painting depicts a stained-glass orb hanging from the wooden rafters of an attic, surrounded by a flock of green parakeets drawn to its light. The orb, featuring the image of a vibrant fruit tree, presents a beautiful yet brittle illusion of abundance. This ironic twist—where the glass fruit tree signifies both beauty and fragility—provokes a deeper contemplation on the nature of commemoration and the subtle violence embedded within the act of preservation.
Bloom’s narrative extends beyond static imagery, inviting viewers into an interactive dialogue with his art. In "But Wasn’t It Beautiful?", he juxtaposes the careful restoration of a stained-glass orb depicting an atomic explosion with the inherent fragility of the material. This piece highlights the irony of memorializing destruction through a medium as delicate as glass. Other works, like "Blokes" and "What Seems to Be the Problem," evoke a more subtle tension. Muscular figures manipulate the orbs in ways that suggest both creation and potential destruction, prompting viewers to reflect on the ambiguous rituals depicted and the fine line between harm and healing.
The smaller-scale paintings in "Commemorations" offer a more intimate look at the materiality of stained glass, placing the orbs within hyperreal, yet detached spaces. "A Quick Shared Glimpse" features an orb depicting a bustling train carriage hanging in an empty room, the fractured imagery within mimicking the craft of stained glass. This interplay between the ordinary and the ethereal, the seamless and the shattered, underscores Bloom’s exploration of memory and its portrayal. Through these works, Bloom suggests that what we choose to commemorate reveals our collective aspirations and individual identities. "Commemorations" at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery is not just an exhibition but a profound journey through the fragile nature of memory and the narratives we construct, making it a must-see for any art aficionado.
