Drawn to the Work: Illustration and Craft in Conversation

January 24 - March 29,2020

"An exhibition of works by Aurélie Guillaume, Chenlu Hou, and Aya Kakeda, three craft artists who draw from a background in illustration. By featuring traditional and digital illustrations alongside works in craft materials, the exhibition explores the intersection of these two artistic disciplines and presents unusually expressive works that tell unique stories. The detailed brooches of Aurélie Guillaume (Montréal, QC) draw on the historic use of narrative illustration in enamel, particularly the tradition of Byzantine enamelwork, which allowed artists to create intricate portraits. Guillaume translates her energetic and joyful illustrations into large enamel brooches, which can be displayed on the body or by themselves. Her lively and humorous character designs draw upon street and pop art, as well as the narrative qualities of comic-making. Chenlu Hou (Providence, RI) uses ink, clay, and animation to create a world populated by crowds of mutant bodies moving together with a single consciousness. Influenced by childhood memories, folktales of demons and spirits, and the work of horror comics artist Junji Ito, Hou’s figures stretch and warp unnaturally, limbs detaching and reassembling under their own volition. Merging her personal history with dark images from folklore, Hou’s world has the power to unsettle the psyche by appearing both comfortably familiar and totally alien. Aya Kakeda (Brooklyn, NY) grew up in Tokyo, where she was influenced by ancient woodblock prints, as well as the work of painter, photographer, and printmaker, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, and the travel photography of Kenji Sato. Her detailed illustrations evoke lush worlds inhabited by moody and whimsical characters. Kakeda has translated her illustrations into toys, ceramic, and installations. Through diorama-building and character design, she plays with scale, allowing viewers to explore the imaginative worlds she creates."

Opening: January 24, 2019 | 5-8 pm

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft - HCCC 4848 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
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