BETWEEN THE FIRMAMENT AND THE FREEWAY: TWO ARTISTS REGARD THE DAILY DISPLAY OF NATURE IN EXHIBITIONS AT LAX
(Los Angeles, California – November 19, 2015) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, announces two new art exhibitions at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) featuring works of art that find moments of beauty throughout our daily routine.Helios features Shingo Francis’ paintingsinspiredby theevolving sky-scapesthat theartistwitnessedduringhisfrequenttravels betweenJapanandtheUnitedStates. Guest curated by Koán Jeff Baysa, Francis’ abstract paintings reference the fiery hues and shimmer of a sunlit horizon as the earth transitions between light and dark. Helios is on view for the public in the Terminal 3 Ticketing Level. In the exhibition Tathata, artist Randall Von Bloomberg’s large-scale oil paintings capture the natural landscapes that thrive around the roadways and infrastructure of the urban environment, and their surprisingly transcendental qualities. Tathata is on view for ticketed passengers in the Departures Level Connector between Terminal 7 and 8. Both exhibitions are on display through February 2016.
Artist Shingo Francis’abstract paintings and works on paper reference the transitory nature of air travel as the viewer is immersed in vast horizons of light and dark planes of color. The seven abstract artworks in Helios, the exhibition title a nod to the sun god worshipped by the ancient Greeks, seemingly have no beginning or end, up or down, in recognition of our continual journey around the sun.
Francis hashoneda paintingtechnique of layeringpigmentandmediumthatallowslighttoreflectbackfromthe underlyingsurface,thusactivating a range of sublime colors. As curator Baysa states, “At 30,000 feet above the earth, air travelers have privileged vantage points from which to witness spectacular skies, sunrises, and sunsets. Francis’ work brings that daily display of color to the viewer in a minimalist, but luminous manner.”
In the exhibition Tathata,fourteen oil paintings by Los Angeles-based artist Randall Von Bloomberg feature imagery inspired by the urban landscape, in particular, the trees and plants that thrive around freeways and urban infrastructure. Tathata is a Sanskrit word that expresses the profound awareness and appreciation of reality within each single moment of life. Tathata is often revealed in the seemingly mundane, such as the sun illuminating an asphalt road, or the wind blowing through a patch of grass. Von Bloomberg is fascinated by urban in-between spaces, and his art magnifies and translates these transitory moments into expressions of Tathata. Von Bloomberg states, “As an in-between space, the airport terminal offers travelers an opportunity to experience Tathata. I hope these paintings awaken an awareness of the interconnectivity of time, humanity and nature.”
About the Los Angeles International Airport Art Program
The mission of the LAX Art Program is to enhance and humanize the travel experience by providing diverse and memorable art experiences throughout the airport. The art program includes temporary exhibitions, permanent installations, and cultural performances. With an emphasis on local and regional artists, the Art Program provides access to an array of contemporary artworks that reflect and celebrate the region’s creative caliber.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the fifth busiest airport in the world and second in the United States. LAX served nearly 70.7 million passengers in 2014. LAX offers 692 daily nonstop flights to 85 cities in the U.S. and 928 weekly nonstop flights to 67 cities in 34 countries on 59 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with over two million tons of air cargo valued at nearly $96.3 billion. An economic study in 2011 reported that operations at LAX generated 294,400 jobs in Los Angeles County with labor income of $13.6 billion and economic output of more than $39.7 billion. This activity added $2.5 billion to local and state revenues. LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
