Faces + Traces

MAKE ROOM LA - "Fata Morgana" - Jacopo Pagin

Marking his first solo show in the U.S, Jacopo Pagin invites audiences into the phenomenon that is Fata Morgana, an Italian folklore rooted in the Arthurian character of Morgan le Fay. Running February 15 through March 12, MAKE ROOM LA presents "Fata Morgana," an exhibition investigating the mythology known for luring bystanders out to sea through mirages— explained by many as optical illusions. Although these stories varied among cultures, they spread throughout Europe, "It's positioned between the end of Paganism and the beginning of Christianity, but it collects mythology from Greek culture and Nordic culture," Pagin explains.

An Italian adaptation, "Fata Morgana," combines fairy with destiny or fate, speaking directly to the mutating mythology. Interested in how histories tie together and various interpretations, Pagin has arrived where he unapologetically understands his perspective and the narratives he wants to tell. Dealing with subjects of womanhood and references of multiple cultures, the mutlimedia artist finds points of entry, hyperaware of his identity and his association to the world.

Including an abstract self-portrait depicting Murano glass, an object close to the artist, Pagin states, "I use Murano glasses as a kind of door as a kind of amulet as a kind of a pendulum to try and make people enter these new realities. I'm trying to manifest states and so often to enter this reality." Informed by history and curiosities, Pagin creates vast worlds on canvases, formulating thoughts with paint.

Prada Mode Los Angeles - "helLA World" - Martine Syms

Arriving in Los Angeles at Genghis Cohan, Prada Mode  has transformed the space to accommodate "HelLA World," an installation by Martine Syms speaking to the multiplicity within exchanges. This immersive project combines text and video elements, meditating on guests' interactions, and is featured on monitors throughout the venue. In addition, this multi-layered installation invites attendees to partake in conversation through submitted messages, occupying the inside of the beloved Chinese restaurant.

Showcased on February 16 and 17, Prada Mode and taken their nomadic social club, centered on curation, to Los Angeles in partnership with Dominica Publishing, Syms' company, creating an event with panels including "Time," director Garrett Bradley, filmmaker Daisy Zhou, Martine Syms, among others. To close out each day, Genghis Cohan turned into a club with music performances by Junglepussy, Sudan Archives, and DJs including Vegyn, Bae Bae, and more. 

Sow & Tailor - "House Hold" - Tidawhitney Lek

On view at Sow & Tailor, a South LA gallery creating space for diverse artists, "House Hold" is Tidawhitney Lek's first solo exhibition connecting familial narratives impacted by generational trauma. The Long Beach-based artist explores her identity, mastering a craft that is a conduit for her thoughts. "I'm a first-generation American on top of that. My parents immigrated from Cambodia, they left during the end of the Khmer Rouge, so they actually lived through it. It brought back a lot of stuff and folded into the next generation. I feel like I have a story that a big part of America shares, you know, but in terms of Asian identity, ours was actually kept quiet because of the horrors that nobody really talked about it. I had to like dig. And it was only until the last four years where I found the courage to really investigate the issue; that's what I was realizing. It didn't just belong to me; it actually belonged to an entire country. That generation, even the generation after, so I mean, I live in a Cambodian community, and you can see in the community that there's something that happened amongst us. The generational trauma that the next generation inherited, we all have a similar kind of anxiety or a fear," Lek explains.

Running from February 13 - March 20, 2022, "House Hold" examines the culture of immigrant life and inherited traditions. Through meticulous detail, Lek embellishes each piece with symbolic hands of women, representations of hard work embedded in anxieties.

SIZED - "VESSELS"

With an opening in time for their latest exhibition, "VESSELS," SIZED.STUDIO finds a new home in Hollywood in an expansive two-story space perfect for any artistic accommodation. Creative Director, Alexander May, has built a career creating experiences that explore the world's wonders, situated at the intersection of art and culture. His latest curation marvels at form— with abilities of holding matter, it includes works from over 200 artists, with a site-specific Ikebana installation. Running February 16 through 27, 2022, "VESSELS" unites various interpretations, producing a spectacle best seen in person.

The wide-ranging roster of artists includes Berlin-based sculptor Lukas Stoever, Mexico City-based artist Rio Estudio, the multitalented Rick Owens, LA-based sculptor Leena Similu, and a site-specific drilled crater by Fai Khadra, among others. 

"Everyday Rituals" - Tiwa Select X FARAGO

Located on the historic Broadway street in Downtown Los Angeles, Alex Tieghi-Walker of Tiwa Select and Max Farago of FARAGO have co-curated a show including works by artists who create in the margins. Each artist speaks to a narrative of cultural understanding and self-awareness with developed crafts varying in discipline. "Everyday Rituals" aims to celebrate unique perspectives that have strayed away from structured art spaces.

Work that stems from personal journeys, some survival, some spiritual, and others utilitarian, this exhibit exemplifies the vastness that exists outside of the conventional. Both Farago and Tieghi-Walker have united to blend their artistic approaches and outlooks to honor artists who have never received recognition through the means of a traditional gallery experience. Running from February 17 through the 22, the participating artists are Jim McDowell, Andrée Singer Thompson, Noel Guzmán Bofill Rojas, Louis Mueller, Mary Ann Pettway, Sandú Darié, and Michael Lindsay- Hogg.

SALON at Radius House - "Ambivalent Traces" - Johnny Le

Radius House in Los Angeles was home to "Salon," a group exhibition curated by Noemi Polo in partnership with her Los Angeles creative studio Amor Corp. Running until February 20, 2020, "Salon" presented a multi-layered curation connecting over 50 participants under the contemporary roof. Among the modern layout were rooms adorned with art in various forms. From a lacquered chair by multi-talent Mowalola to an ikebana installation by florist Taylor Durie, "Salon" offered a visual menu for any artistic appetite.

Situated in the thoughtfully designed space stood Johnny Le's installation, "Ambivalent Traces," an exploration of time and interrelatedness that has come under question during this context of uncertainty. Through a 35mm camera, Le captured moments resting in the past and present, forming a non-linear narrative. An installation embellished by curiosities, Le continues to revel in humanistic sensibilities, weaving a thread through people, spaces, and deep emotion.

The Little House - "Tales from an Urban Garden" - Raqib Shaw

Showcasing Raqib Shaw’s “Tales from an Urban Garden,” Dries Van Noten and  Jeffrey Deitch, in collaboration with White Cube, have come together to present this offering at The Little House. Running February 16 through March 26, “Tales from an Urban Garden” relishes Shaw’s life, isolating moments of his mother’s garden in Kashmir.

Born in Calcutta, India, and based in London, Shaw utilizes sculpture work and painting, telling stories that rest at the forefront of his mind. Enveloped in exquisite detail, Shaw draws on musical and literary influences, creating dynamic works twisting artistic understanding. Mirroring his beginnings, the multi-disciplinary artist occupied his studios’ adjacent parking lot, manifesting remembrances that live on through his craft.