LUKE CHUEH “Random Acts of Sadness”
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LUKE CHUEH “Random Acts of Sadness” Solo Exhibition Opening Reception Saturday, August 10, 2013 from 7-10pm On View August 10 – September 7, 2013 Culver City (July 26, 2013) — On Saturday, August 10, CHG Circa presents “Random Acts of Sadness,” featuring the new paintings and sculpture of popular Los Angeles artist Luke Chueh. The art of “Random Acts of Sadness” finds Chueh’s animal personas coping with his sad and tragic nar- ratives. As the name of the show suggests, Chueh drew inspiration from whatever came to mind, from his childhood reflections, Asian heritage, personal recovery, and experiences as an artist. In his new work, Chueh’s creatures live in universal contrasts of adoration and atrocity, echoing a decade of his art. “Random Acts of Sadness” is probably one of my more truly introspective shows,” says Luke Chueh. In the featured painting “Even a Monkey,” Chueh’s artist monkey draws a bear portrait, over and over, pro- jected into an altered state of comic self-reflection. Chueh goes on to say, “One way you can read into the painting is my recognizing that anybody (even a monkey) can draw a cute sad character. However, the painting also declares that there has to be a reason why I’ve been able to do this for so long, and it’s be- cause there is a lot more to my work than cute animal characters.” In the painting “Seppuku,” Chueh draws inspiration from his recent trip to Tokyo. His bear’s foreboding ritual suicide is seconded by a samurai-sword wielding caricature of himself. In “Target (Revisited),” a bear paints a symbol of its own doom against a bullet-riddled execution wall. Cuteness has become an endgame, caught in the enigma of a warped, iconic moment. “My paintings feature simple anthropomorphic characters and are driven by a dark, at times tragic, narrative,” says Chueh. Here, his benign characters find more sinister and comical fates, grounded by their stoical detachment - monkey, bear, and rabbit are cool under fire. -more- For “Random Acts of Sadness,” Cheuh’s “You Are What You Eat” series of paintings will profile ethnic culinary habits - specifically Chinese. “There are certain Chinese delicacies that I consider verging on barbaric, cruel way the animal is treated before being dispatched and eaten,” says Cheuh. “Ancient Chinese medicine used to believe that you literally were what you ate - if you wanted the libido of a tiger, you ate the penis of a tiger. The philosophy evolved into culinary tradition.” In “You Are What You Eat,” Chueh’s animals, on the plate and the canvas, illustrate his response to the consumption of animal magnetism, symbolized by Bear (Paw), Shark (Fin), and Tiger (Penis). The 16 paintings and sculptures of “Random Acts of Sadness” will feature Luke Chueh’s familiar characters, experiencing the Chueh vein of narrative and style. An exhibition revealing his art’s natural evolution while retaining the elements he’s best known for. “I think my audience has been wanting to see a ‘classic’ Luke Chueh show, and with this, I am happy to oblige.” The opening reception for “Random Acts of Sadness” takes place Saturday, August 10 at CHG Circa. The reception is open to the public, and the exhibition will be on view through September 7, 2013. Luke Chueh Luke Chueh was raised in California. Motivated by his interest in the visual arts, he earned a BS in Graphic Design at Cal Poly and moved to Los Angeles, to pursue a career painting. Chueh’s highly-collectable work is influenced by his life experiences, connecting the synergy between Pop Culture, Street Culture, and Geek Culture. He has exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide. Numerous magazines and websites have published articles about his work, including Nylon, Juxtapoz, Entertainment Weekly, Clutter Magazine, Daily Candy and most recently Hi Fructose. Chueh’s paintings have also been reinterpreted into the popular art toy/ urban vinyl format by respected producers such as Munky King, Intheyellow, StrangeCo, GelaSkins, FullyVi- sual, and Kid Robot. For more information about the artist, please visit lukechueh.com. CHG Circa Established in 2012 by Los Angeles gallerists Jan Corey Helford and Bruce Helford, CHG Circa is their excit- ing new art venue on Washington Blvd. After launching the highly-successful Corey Helford Gallery in 2006 in the Culver City Arts District, the Helfords opened CHG Circa as a platform to highlight figurative and pop surreal artists worldwide, including Lola, Van Arno, Sylvia Ji, Amy Sol and many more. Corey Helford Gallery is internationally-renowned for its standout exhibitions, from “Letters From America” during the 2012 London Olympics to “Art From The New World,” Corey Helford’s transatlantic collaboration with the Bristol’s City Mu- seum & Art Gallery showcasing work by a formidable group of 49 of the finest emerging and noted American artists in the New Contemporary art scene. CHG Circa will present exhibitions and special projects of equal quality and caliber. “We believe the artists we show and support are creating timeless art,” the Helfords add, and to celebrate this, CHG Circa will have an elegant 1930s’ ambiance, stamped tin ceilings and 10 foot arch- ways. CHG Circa presents new exhibitions every 4-5 weeks. For more information and an upcoming exhibi- tion schedule, please visit coreyhelfordgallery.com. CHG Circa 8530-A Washington Boulevard Culver City, CA 90232 www.coreyhelfordgallery.com Wednesday - Saturday, Noon to 6:00pm Press and Media Inquiries Angelique Groh | Charm School [email protected] T: 323-363-9338 ###.