The exhibition will run from November 21st, 2009 through December 26th, 2009.  A public reception will be held on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Yoko Tanaka and Katherine Guillen in attendance.

Thailand based artist Yoko Tanaka (work shown above) creates haunting acrylic paintings that explore the relationship between human and animal life. Her work features human-like and non-human creatures that exist in somber, fanciful landscapes. In these works, Tanaka urges the viewer to compare the animal lives depicted in her paintings to our own. These creatures are humanized; rabbits are shown playing children's games and wearing clothing, suggesting that these creatures are not so removed from us. However, the artist also seems to be saying that the border between the animal and human worlds is still ambiguous. While the rabbits personify human traits, they still lack the self-awareness, rationality and culture of humans and they appear awkward and almost uncomfortable. It is up to the viewer to consider these opposing points of view.

Katherine Guillen's paintings find inspiration in the idea of the monument, both as an architectural celebration and as emotional and historical expression. Her exploration of the idea of the monument began with the misread phrase, "monument to the unknown." Guillen argues that out of context, monuments are always "to the unknown," speaking more towards our desire to order nature and defy mortality, rather than to articulate and memorialize an actual event or person. Her landscapes are inhabited by these monument abstractions and illustrate the conflicts between nature and human beings. In the human desire to create, build and idealize, which Guillen describes as being "both our redemption and our failing," the struggle to achieve balance and order becomes the challenge.

The paintings of German based artist Andrea Offermann address the juxtaposition of science and nature and the natural and mechanical worlds. Her current body of work focuses on the motives behind scientific research, "the drive to understand, to recreate, to adjust, to manipulate and to leave a mark on the face of the earth to be remembered by." Her work portrays surrealistic building stations that recreate animals on a large scale as perfected machines, or show masses of discarded shells of these creations, reminiscent of ancient animal fossils. In exploring the relationships between the mind, machines and nature, Offermann comments on the creativity of the human mind and its ability to both recreate and leave an imprint on nature.

All three of these artists offer a unique perspective on the relationships between nature, science, idealism and order. Their work is sure to engage you, and draw you into the dialogue.

More info online at www.davidbsmithgallery.com

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