From the masters of the Renaissance to the Romantic painters of the
19th century, the art of ancient Greece and Rome has inspired artists
for over 2,500 years. As Picasso painted the Minotaur repeatedly and
modern artist Cy Twombly inserted ancient Greek words into his
paintings, antiquity continues to act as a key impetus for contemporary
artists.
You are cordially invited to a preview at Hilton Asmus Contemporary
FRIDAY * NOVEMBER 6 * 6:00 to 8:00 pm
"Inspired by Antiquity" will parallel the Field Museum's groundbreaking exhibition "The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander the Great", on
display from November 2015 through April 2016. While "The Greeks" sheds
light on the fascinating history of ancient Greece and Rome, "Inspired by Antiquity" will illustrate the unbroken line of inspiration in art from ancient times to the present.
Over the coming months,
Hilton | Asmus Contemporary will host a private
evening with each individual artist
"AN EVENING WITH THE ARTIST"
In the meantime, please join us as we celebrate SOFA 2015 on November 6.
JYL BONAGURO "MARBLE BUST" (ARTIST WILL BE PRESENT NOVEMBER 6)
From the perfectly
defined torsos of gods and goddesses to stylized busts of emperors and
generals, sculpture was one of the most widely practiced art forms in
ancient Greece and Rome. Artist and playwright, Jyl Bonaguro carries on the tradition with her marble and alabaster sculptures. Using the same tools used by ancient Greek and Romans, a hammer and chisel, she carves images
that resemble broken pieces of ancient statues. These beautiful figures
are purposefully fragmented with parts left unfinished in order to
expose the fallacy of immortality.
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PETER SOREL "AGRIGENTO, Sicily, Mitoraj Sculpture, 2011
Chicago resident Peter Sorel, of "Hollywood to Chicago" fame,
has been an avid photographer since the age of thirteen. Immigrating to
the United States in 1959 from his native Hungary, he became one of
Hollywood's most sought after photographers, documenting movie sets and
creating stunning poster images for more than 120 films including Easy Rider, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Frida and Life of Pi. In
February 2014, Hilton | Asmus Contemporary showcased his celebrity
photographs alongside Mark Rothko inspired images shot along Lake
Michigan in his Homage to Rothko: Lake/Sky series. Sorel departs from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to a time that inspired the stories behind the big screen.
In 2011, while on a trip to Sicily, Sorel visited the archaeological site of Agrigento
where an installation of monumental sculptures by Polish
sculptor, Igor Mitoraj were on exhibition. Sorel's photographs capture
an image of fallen and broken gods and goddesses surrounding the temples
where they were once worshipped.
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EVE OZER "THE POWER OF MYTH"
From frescos to panel portraits, paintings adorned the temples of ancient Greece and Rome. German born Chicago resident, Eve Ozer revives
an ancient method used by Greeks, encaustic (wax) painting. Using
non-traditional materials such as loofa, net, music sheets and
newspapers, she creates a surface that is composed of layers of
colors and textures.
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HILTON | ASMUS CONTEMPORARY
Featuring Chicago based artists, as
well as internationally known artists from Europe, and in particular,
the Mediterranean, the gallery is located in the River North Art District at the corner of Wells and Superior.
HILTON ASMUS CONTEMPORARY
716 N. Wells
Chicago, IL 60654 USA
312.475.1788
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TERRY POULOS "ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM"
(ARTIST WILL BE PRESENT NOVEMBER 6)
Poulos captures a lost piece of Greek history that rested on the bottom of the sea for 2,000 years.
The Antikythera mechanism is hailed as the world's first computer. The astrolabe was used as
an astronomical calculator/planetarium functioned to predict lunar and
solar eclipses, the alignment of celestial objects, procession of the
equinoxes, movement of the five
known planets at the time, and optimal times and regions to host the
ancient Olympic Games. Composed of bits of gears, tools and metal
objects with a verdigris patina, Poulos recreates this enigmatic
machine.
Watch video of
BLAKE WARD "PHANTOM SKY"
A longtime resident of Monte Carlo, Canadian sculptor Blake Ward's new works from his Spirits Collection
provoke introspection, illustrating his contemporary approach to
classical figurative sculpture and his development from firm academicism
to a new liberating metallic expressionism. Building on the techniques
of figurative sculpture developed in antiquity, his newest pieces
challenge the classical figure by opening up the interior space of the
human form as a way to search our inner selves.
While Ward remains true to the representational quality and the realistic proportions of traditional sculpture, Spirits crosses
over into abstract and ethereal realms where he aims for provocative
figures that expand the consciousness of our inner realities. Ward's 1/4 scale, partial figures break away from all the fundamental rules of bronze sculpture.
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MANOLIS TZORTZAKAKIS "UNTITLED"
A native of Greece, emerging artist Manolis Tzortzakakis' abstract
paintings are infused with the myths of ancient Greece. Moving to
Chicago in 2014, he incorporates the light and atmosphere of his new
home into his work. Manolis'
interest is not in depicting an accurate image of a natural pattern or
an artificial reproduction, but he attempts, by removing individual and
temporal features to convey a direct "view" of the sense or essence of
the world.
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