Ilan Gutin
October 1st - October 29th, 2023
Thursday - Sunday 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Opening Reception: Friday, October 6th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
This body of work started with a series of fifty screen prints, all carefully created according to a consistent set of rules, and with each print serving as a stepping stone that informed the next. Fascinated by the symbolism inherent in window screens, I delved into representing their patterns, textures, and the interplay of light through different ephemeral compositions.
Inspired by tapestries and fiber arts, I started to see parallels between window screens and decorative weavings found in domestic settings. In their own unique ways, they both serve as guardians of our personal spaces. This marked a turning point for the works, leading me to experiment with converting the prints into large weavings created on a Jacquard Loom. The resulting pieces resonated with a domestic familiarity, evoking feelings of comfort and home, while also acknowledging the thin barrier that divides the different worlds we inhabit. I became fixated on the idea of "looking in to look out”.
-Ilan Gutin