by #LizPublika
LUMIÈRE: A Solo Exhibition by Indira Cesarine
Presented by The Untitled Space & MakersPlace
At the Canvas 3.0 Gallery at the Oculus World Trade Center
6 PM- 9 PM, Wednesday, January 31st
On the evening of January 31st, multidisciplinary artist Indira Cesarine is set to debut LUMIÈRE, her latest solo exhibition presented by The Untitled Space in partnership with MakersPlace, at the Canvas 3.0 gallery located within the Oculus World Trade Center. Curated by Jessica Marinaro, the event will unveil over 20 surreal photographic light paintings and mark the official drop of Cesarine’s animated photographic Genesis NFTs, which will then be available for purchase on the digital fine-art marketplace.
“The series, developed over the last two years, features five muses from the worlds of ballet, modern dance, fashion modeling, and contortionism,” explains Cesarine in her artist statement. Their nude silhouettes are body-painted with vines, leaves, and spirals. “The spiral as a symbol of life and the eternal is depicted on their figures as well as in the light refracted into the camera lens, creating a spellbinding glow radiating around their silhouettes," elaborates the talented artist.
While Cesarine’s digital pieces will be shown on the innovative WHIM fine art screens utilized at The Canvas 3.0 gallery, a selection of surrealism-inspired photography presented on large-scale aluminum prints, hand-welded steel sculptures, and art films by the artist, will give audiences plenty to interact with. She wants attendees to immerse themselves into a “world where light, movement, and symbolism converge,” to better “perceive the profound mystery and beauty inherent in the dance of life.”
Lumière explores illumination as a visual metaphor for enlightenment, hope, and the ongoing pursuit of understanding. By fusing manipulated light with biological forms in an unusual manner, Cesarine is tapping into an established tradition: surrealist artists were notoriously fond of activities and games that tap the subconscious. “I have been exploring themes of Surrealism in my work since my first forays into photography,” shares Cesarine, who has long been inspired by Man Ray, the first known art photographer to use the technique.
“This method involves using light as a brush, painting ethereal strokes onto canvases of darkness, thus capturing a play of luminosity that transcends the boundaries of traditional imagery. Interestingly, as a director, Cesarine assumes a hidden yet crucial role in the composition of her photographic light paintings, adding an intriguing layer to the overall visual narrative. Indeed, “in the realm of LUMIÈRE, surreal light painting becomes a mesmerizing dance between the tangible and the transcendent,” but also the orchestrator herself.
In celebration of the multi tier event, WHITE WAVE Young Soon Kim Dance Company will perform “Eternal NOW” under the direction of its founder and choreographer Young Soon Kim, who is known for her exhilarating and emotionally rich works. For the performance, dancers will be dressed in select pieces from Cesarine’s LUMIÈRE wearable art fashion collection created with photo-printed fabric and sustainably manufactured in the UK, which is also premiering at the event.
Being familiar with Cesarine’s body of work, I appreciate the evolving and ongoing nature themes that often set the tone for her collections. Not quite crossing over into minimalism, she has a flair for simply but elegantly using natural elements to highlight her photography, as I anticipate will once again be affirmed at the opening of LUMIÈRE. The evening is positioned to be an eventful one. As such, all who wish to attend are required to RSVP.
For those who cannot attend the event, after LUMIÈRE premiers on January 31st, the exhibition will be available to view at The Untitled Space gallery from February 8th to the 28th. An artist talk is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb 21st, so make sure to reserve the date and stop on by.
Note* All of the event information and images are provided by our partners.