- Scant attendance and a focused agenda made the commercial behemoth that is the Armory Show a leisurely experience for OMNP last weekend. Searching specifically for contemporary art that bears a connection to Old Masters allowed for the luxury of breezing past many of the 200 booths packed together off of West Side Pier 94. Nevertheless, this labyrinth of commerce was overwhelming at times. After getting lost and walking in circles, it became clear that only mirrors would be needed on the ceilings to turn this spectacle into a full-fledged casino.
Not that money was really being thrown around this time. If the Armory’s recent hustle and bustle had the feel of a prime-time opening on Vegas strip, this year’s show had the feel of the morning shift at the Fremont in Swingers. A marble tablet with the inscription “Everyone Is Broke,” was literally a sign of the times. All was not lost however, as OMNP stumbled upon some incredible works by two artists from the East, the Japanese photographer Hiroyuki Masuyama and the Chinese painter, Wei Dong. A few images of their work are below, more words and photos from the Armory Show to follow.
Masuyama’s work sucessfully tackles the challenge of maintaining a sense of originality, without getting lost in the shadow of the greatness that it is referencing. Photographic collages recreate the impressionist feel of Turner’s signature brushwork by layering hundreds of digital photographs upon one another, taken from the actual areas of original views. The ethereal light beneath however, provides the futuristic piece-de-resistance. This is how Old Masters will be remembered in a Blade Runner-esque dystopia.