Raha Raissnia

Miguel Abreu Gallery is pleased to present Raha Raissnia's Confound as part of Sequence 7: One Work, Several Weeks, an exhibition wherein over the course of several weeks a single artwork or installation will be on view at our 36 Orchard Street space. This sequencing of objects by various artists articulated over time constitutes a break from the traditional group show in which works are installed in relation to one another in space rather than time.

"Confound is based on a drawing I made of the same title. The painting engages some of the same basic elements. From the realm of the manmade, I chose images of technology, specifically circuitry – intrigued by its labyrinthine structures – as well as architecture. From the organic world, I referenced patterns and textures of rock formations and fluids such as water and lava. As the title suggests, my attempt was to evoke an image that would transcend any perceived notions, thoughts, and relations that are prevalent about these elements that make up part of the landscape of our humanity in crisis today. What I longed to achieve was an image that, ironically, would suggest harmony and beauty, one that would be imbued with feelings of wonder; an image that would be at once surprising and subtle. To help me realize this task, I used various techniques that are aleatory in nature, such as misregistration caused by an image transfer process, and the erasure of marks which leave traces that become suggestive of new forms. I also added two new elements to the painting version of the drawing: flesh and flowers."

—Raha Raissnia