Issue I Distortion
Featured Artists:
Penelope Umbrico
Lucas Blalock
Yinuo Chen
Chiarina Chen
Arlina Cai
Featured Places:
Rhythm 0
Elsewhere
Seth Comedy
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Penelope Umbrico
Writer: Joven Delay
Editor: Jiani Wang
Image Credit: Artist
Videographer: Jiani Wang
Photographer: Jiani Wang
Salvaged from the junkyard that is the online web, Penelope Umbrico emerges as a master of appropriation, transforming discarded images into compelling artworks that delve into the depths of our consumerist world and the technology that appears to have, in turn, consumed it. Umbrico experiments with media to create her installations, videos come to life, large-scale collages take form, and collections of forgotten items find new purpose. Umbrico's process involves a relentless indulgence in open-sourced media, rescuing images left to gather digital dust. Disassembling and reassembling, she skillfully dissects, rearranges, and prints them, unveiling a visual tapestry that captures the essence of our digital age—full images, or perhaps, a collage of fragments.
Lucas Blalock
Writer: Joven Delay
Editor: Jiani Wang
Image Credit: Artist
Videographer: shuwan
Lucas Blalock, an influential and pioneering artist and photographer, merges ham-fisted digital trickery with traditional photography, solidifying his position as a visionary in contemporary image-making. His larger-than-life works draw on diverse moments from his life, spanning inside jokes with friends, traumatic injuries, and childhood memories inspired by knick knacks. Blalock reflects on these experiences with a touch of absurdity, humor, and profound self-awareness, creating a rich tapestry of artistic expression.
Yinuo Chen
Writer: Joven Delay
Editor: Jiani Wang
Image Credit: Artist
Yinuo Chen, a multidisciplinary creative with a background in fine art, crafts digital experiences that combine aesthetics with functionality. Having experienced a sense of displacement throughout her life split between China and the United States, Chen often grapples with the feeling of not belonging, navigating the dichotomy of being a "perpetual foreigner" caught between two cultures. This existential exploration of self and identity manifests in her artistic endeavors, where she delves into themes of cultural hybridity, the fluidity of belonging, and her struggle to express emotions.
Arlina Cai
Writer: Joven Delay
Image Credit: Artist
Arlina Cai is a surrealist abstract painter based in Brooklyn who creates soft, ethereal paintings that delicately traverse the boundary between reality and fantasy. Her art serves as a mirror to the unseen and unspoken realms of the human psyche, manifesting the mysteries and truths that dwell within each individual. With a focus on vulnerability and connection, Cai delves into the theme of seeking wholeness within, offering a sanctuary for introspection and discovery amidst the chaos of existence.
Chiarina Chen
Writer: Jiani Wang, Joven Delay
Editor: Jiani Wang
Image Credit: Artist
Videographer: Jiani Wang
Chiarina Chen, an independent curator and writer based in New York, approaches her practice from a diasporic and posthuman lens. Her curatorial endeavors, predominantly featuring international artists and themes, "fuse art and emotional technology," spanning mediums from photography to sound installations, showcasing a diverse array of mixed media.
Elsewhere
Writer: Joven Delay
Editor: Jiani Wang
In the bustling metropolis of New York City, where every borough boasts its unique cultural tapestry and an endless array of venues, bars, and experiences for both tourists and locals alike, Elsewhere emerges as a unique enclave in the midst of Bushwick. Amidst the glitz and glamor of mainstream venues, this multifaceted haven comes to the forefront as a place of all labels—music venue, art space, underground nightclub, and local hotspot.
Sesh Comedy
Writer: Joven Delay
Photographer: Shaoyu Zhang
In the eclectic landscape of the Lower East Side, Sesh Comedy stands tall, offering straightforward and affordable laughs. This comedy club, with two thriving locations, has carved its niche by showcasing a diverse mix of comedians, from fresh faces testing new material to seasoned performers gracing stages on Comedy Central and Late Night.
Rhythm 0
Writer: Joven Delay
Editor: Jiani Wang
Photographer: Matthew Valenzuela
Nestled along the waterfront of Greenpoint, a haven that marries the rich aromas of freshly brewed coffee with the curated allure of an art museum emerges. Large 18th-century portraits hang from the walls, hand-sculpted abstract lamps glow in the corners, and plush trendy chairs scattered around the space create an ambiance that has seized the spotlight online. Rhythm Zero, a distinctive and rapidly thriving coffee shop, is the creation of married duo, Ivana and Alex. Their mission: to fuse the realms of coffee and art culture into a singular, immersive experience.