Saturday, February 13, 2010
Travis Kent at SOFA
Travis Kent recently relocated to Austin from New York, and has just opened his first solo exhibition entitled Hope You’re Well, at SOFA Gallery at the beginning of the month. SOFA was started by Katie Geha, former curator at The University Museum in Wichita, Kansas. The name SOFA is not an acronym, but is a nod to the term Sofa Art. A pejarotive in the art community referring to generic art bought for display over your sofa. (My personal sofa art is a diptych of Roy Lichtenstein's "Whaam!")
Kent's photographs are dynamic, yet his images remain somewhat diaristic due to their low-fi, snapshot feel. He presents unusual moments collected from experience and meticulously sequenced. This exhibit explores whether a photo taken in a way that does not imply composition and screams spontanaity can be considered as serious art. This would be akin to a musician choosing to record their album in a basement on the worst equipment they could find because they wanted that sound to help express their medium. It does not take away from the piece, but adds to it because the choice was specific and calculated.
SOFA has a wonderful and we hope to see even more great things from them. The show has been noted in ArtForum and will be on display until February 21st at SOFA Gallery, 301 E 33rdStreet.
Travis Kent recently relocated to Austin from New York, and has just opened his first solo exhibition entitled Hope You’re Well, at SOFA Gallery at the beginning of the month. SOFA was started by Katie Geha, former curator at The University Museum in Wichita, Kansas. The name SOFA is not an acronym, but is a nod to the term Sofa Art. A pejarotive in the art community referring to generic art bought for display over your sofa. (My personal sofa art is a diptych of Roy Lichtenstein's "Whaam!")
Kent's photographs are dynamic, yet his images remain somewhat diaristic due to their low-fi, snapshot feel. He presents unusual moments collected from experience and meticulously sequenced. This exhibit explores whether a photo taken in a way that does not imply composition and screams spontanaity can be considered as serious art. This would be akin to a musician choosing to record their album in a basement on the worst equipment they could find because they wanted that sound to help express their medium. It does not take away from the piece, but adds to it because the choice was specific and calculated.
SOFA has a wonderful and we hope to see even more great things from them. The show has been noted in ArtForum and will be on display until February 21st at SOFA Gallery, 301 E 33rdStreet.
Labels: Austin Photographers, Exhibits, Sofa Art