The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art 2022

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

There are only a few days left to see this exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art as this year’s show comes to a close on Sunday, August 14th. I know, I know… I waited until the last minute! If you decide to go, here are a few observations you may want to consider to make the most of your visit.

First, I was highly intrigued by the recurring themes shared by quite a few of the artists, namely chance, chaos, mortality and the idea of looking to the past (art historically, speaking) for inspiration, but then reimagining that influence for the present. This makes a lot of sense as I personally have felt that the world has been on a direct path to crazy town for the past few years. Remember, artists don’t create the zeitgeist, they react to it and these artists have put their artistic reactions to a world in chaos on full display.

Gavin Perry’s colorful resin pieces are made entirely by chance.
Dominique Labauvie is rethinking sculpture entirely with his wood and steel pieces and refences Duchamp’s Fountain as inspiration.
Typoe’s colorful light boxes are an exploration of the power of symbols/icons, children’s building blocks and commercial signage to ponder the forces of life and death.

The second thing that really stood out for me was that two of the featured artists had previously spent their careers working in grisaille (shades of gray or monochrome) and then experienced a recent transition to working in color. I was wowed by their adept handling of bold color and was truly mesmerized by their work.

Sara Stites takes an almost graphic or illustrative approach to her large scale Surreal pieces.
Tomas Esson’s monumental abstracts envelop the viewer and keep the viewer’s eyes wandering through a myriad of tangled brushstrokes.

I personally want to highlight the fascinating and overwhelmingly profound work of artist Hiromi Moneyhun. Her papercut pieces are executed in an elaborately detailed manner which showcases her technical skill and her dedication as many of her pieces take months to complete. That said, I did not feel that her technique of choice distracted from her artistic mission, but enhanced her intent to “encourage women in their struggles to set themselves free.” The combination of that personal directive with references to her Japanese heritage, the Shinto religion and the symbolism of traditional Japanese architecture work together seamlessly to produce works of art that are masterfully crafted and emotionally poignant.

For more on this year’s Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition, please visit…

https://omart.org/exhibitions/2022_florida_prize_in_contemporary_art/

2 thoughts on “The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art 2022”

  1. Thank you for sharing your views on the exhibit! Appreciate being able to see selections from the exhibit even though I am not in Central Florida.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

The Wandering Art Historian's avatar
I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.