Lily van der Stokker’s cartoonish Huh show currently on view at Koenig
& Clinton is both a soothing and fun experience. The solo exhibition, an installation of all large-scale pink
three-dimensional objects, globular-shaped wall paintings, and matching pink
custom-made furniture presents a greater discussion about femininity, beauty,
and vacant optimism as well as relationships between artists, critics, and
equality between the sexes.
At first glance the room is an
almost an overwhelming blast of saccharine cuteness, however there are underlying
subtle messages of deprecation throughout the show. A pink cloud-shaped retail
sign affixed to the wall stating: only
yelling older women in here- Nothing to sell is one message in particular
breaks up the seemingly calm feeling of the room making a bold statement on
being an older female artist today. The large wall paintings that engulf the
space also seem to communicate with each other in the context of the exhibition
space. For example two large pajama inspired blobs stand side by side with pink
bubbles stating both nice being here on
the right side and nice being here on
the left side. At the center of the gallery the large irregularly shaped
box sculpture is covered in doodles, perhaps referencing pieces of hair, as
well as pink flowers and looks to be oozing cartoon paint on to the floor.
Huh
plays with the comforts of feminine decorative flatness while making direct
references and statements to the art world, but does so with graceful humor
boldly requesting that the viewer question both the substance and seriousness.
(Image source: Jeffrey Sturges/Koenig & Clinton, New York)
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