No Dead Artists 2010: Rieko Fujinami

What is it about a face?  

Currently on view at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery is the 2010 No Dead Artists juried exhibition- and this is the first year the call for entries was extended nationally.  The result makes for one of the most eclectic shows to date, and one of the most memorable features is a group of portraits by Rieko Fujinami. 

Fujinami's technical skill is unquestionable.  Each portrait is expertly rendered in gray tones on acetate film, and the use of abstract dry pigment to muddy the image along with the shine of the film surface helps to create a sort of marbled texture.  The contrast between the photo-realistic faces and the abstract texture makes for a great superimposed display, as if Fujinami is questioning the sincerity of the portrait itself.  

And indeed that is the question:  What is it about a face that makes it such an easy target for artists?  There are artists who spend their lives trying to find adequate images to represent their conception of the world they see around them.  The debate between representational and abstract art has been waged in academic circles for as long as there has been a designation between 'fine art' and 'fine craftsmanship'.  It is always refreshing to find an artist who merges these two ideas into one solid body of work.

A portrait is in itself an abstraction of a human being.  The sight of an eyes, nose, and mouth is a language equivalent to hearing music, in that there is an instant connection, whether emotionally moving or simply 'not your style'.  Depending on facial expression, one can actually read a person like a map or a star chart, and gain an understanding of what it is like to be not just human, but a very special sort of human in a very special sort of way.  Abstraction and representation are two sides of the same coin.  The word 'apple' is both an abstraction of an actual apple, and a representation of it.  The same thing goes for portraiture.  

Looking at her drawings, it is apparent that Fujinami understands these principles at least enough to create a very startling group of drawings.  Every artist at one time or another wonders about the honesty of their work; whether or not they are being true to the art or to their own aesthetic sense.  The interesting part of Fujinami's work is that her sense is leading her toward an aesthetic that questions itself.  Maybe these are just concepts for her to take or leave in the future.  In the meantime, enjoy the work.  

The 2010 No Dead Artists: National Juried Exhibition will be on view through September 28, at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery at 400a Julia Street.  

For more information or to view the show and check out Rieko Fuijinami's bio, go to:

www.jonathanferraragallery.com