LA Showroom February 2023
Paul Solberg
Lee F. Mindel
March 2023
“FLUXUS”, a new exhibition by artist Paul Solberg, examines the cyclical nature of humankind’s relationship with power and destruction, and the unifying strength in the scars left behind.
Known for his ethereal flower portraits and refined use of light, “FLUXUS” encompassesl 31 new artworks by Solberg. Reflecting on Solberg’s personal experience photographing the Ukrainian military in 2018 and the significance of flowers in both the Ukrainian and Russian cultures, the fall of Bucha in 2022 caused a profound reaction. Returning to the studio, Solberg cut up his flower portraits on canvas, reconstructing the pieces with a new topography, incorporating the cold chrome of a zipper against the flux of the cotton canvas.
Solberg says: “About every century it seems, we humans throw ourselves into a new era of self-destruction for power. The cost is large for both destroyer and repairer, always revealing a fragile brute behind a gilded façade. So the repairers mend what is damaged, unwelcomed echoes from the past. These pieces represent the shared experience of cutting and repair. Our scars—both on land and skin—create a richer topography of who we are.”
“Veritas” the roving exhibition by Lee F. Mindel, FAIA, travels to the West Coast after making its debut in New York and Miami.
The concept of America as a design democracy is central to understanding the inspiration behind “Veritas” as Mindel’s creative process mirrors the uniquely American tradition of assimilating diverse cultural and geographic references.
Created in the RALPH PUCCI (sculpture studio), the presentation of “Veritas” evolves with every locale—whether it be a fast-paced cityscape, a tropical beach dotted with palm trees or an expansive vista of the Pacific swells—and by extension, the body of work is further shaped by each new context.
