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Onkalo Finish word that describes (1) Dark hole/ cavern of potential danger, where creatures of the forest live. (2) Onkalo Finland is an underground geological cavern designed to place spent nuclear waste. This exhibition titled “Onkalo” presents multifaceted journeys by way of paintings that re-imagine enchanted landscapes. These metarealism paintings begin in daily walks through the natural wild, explorations into personal memories, and discoveries from documented references. This research then transforms into dreams of fertile places that slide between the genuine and imagined. The vibrant color palettes are exuberant and joyful while also suggesting mutant plant life sprouting from contaminate soils. Broad, flat color areas in the work symbolize manicured landscape, alluding to desires to control the wild, whilst referencing symbiosis between greater than human world and human made world. Narratives continuously evolve through these works as images emerge in painted layers, dreamily revealing the seen and unseen world. The hues black and puce are often placed in the paintings to stand in for Terra Preta (black, fertile, anthropogenic soil), Onkalo voids, or black water. Layers of illustrated botanical specimens, painterly styles, and techniques are playfully juxtaposed to structure the formal elements of the art works. The painting titles in “Onkalo” are randomly chosen phrases from various fiction and non-fiction texts. This naming process is meant to lead one astray and not intended to explain the ideas found within paintings, but instead are offered as encouragement for one’s ideas to wander. |
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Leads Hikers Astray |
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The Amphitheater of Jet |
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| East Gallery | The Vortex |
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| 300 South Thomas Street Pomona, CA 91766 |
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