INNERSPACE
Nice'n Easy
Nov 16, 2019 - April 26, 2020 | Young At Art Museum
The exhibition "Innerspace" by the collaborative duo we are nice’n easy, LLC—comprising artists Allison Matherly and Jeffrey Noble—takes visitors on an immersive journey through four distinct rooms, each designed to evoke introspection and discovery. Each room features a unique color palette—green, red, blue, and yellow—symbolizing different aspects of the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which means "a reason to live." The artists, drawing on their subtropical vernacular, have created a new line of furniture for each room, with each piece based on the shape of different swimming pools found in Florida, seamlessly integrating their material choices and repeated motifs to enhance the thematic experience.
As visitors move through the exhibition, they encounter light pieces that double as text pieces, prompting reflective questions and guiding them through an introspective journey. This exploration is grounded in the principles of Ikigai, where spiritual and practical elements converge, encouraging individuals to find joy and purpose at the intersection of their passions, talents, and the world's needs. Each room's environment, from its color to its furnishings and text illuminations, serves as a backdrop for this self-discovery, inviting participants to engage deeply with the space and their inner selves.
The entire exhibition is housed within a pool enclosure structure inspired by the "Cool S" or "Super S," a symbol prevalent in graffiti culture since the 1970s, forming a figure-eight shape that further enhances the sense of continuous journey and reflection. Matherly and Noble's work often references themes of self-help, recovery, and interpersonal dependency, utilizing romantic tropes and pop culture iconography to create platforms for intimate exchange. This exhibition, with its blend of subtropical aesthetics and profound philosophical inquiry, epitomizes their distinctive approach to immersive, mixed media installations.
Photos: Zachary Balber & Karli Evans
Nice'n Easy
Nov 16, 2019 - April 26, 2020 | Young At Art Museum
The exhibition "Innerspace" by the collaborative duo we are nice’n easy, LLC—comprising artists Allison Matherly and Jeffrey Noble—takes visitors on an immersive journey through four distinct rooms, each designed to evoke introspection and discovery. Each room features a unique color palette—green, red, blue, and yellow—symbolizing different aspects of the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which means "a reason to live." The artists, drawing on their subtropical vernacular, have created a new line of furniture for each room, with each piece based on the shape of different swimming pools found in Florida, seamlessly integrating their material choices and repeated motifs to enhance the thematic experience.
As visitors move through the exhibition, they encounter light pieces that double as text pieces, prompting reflective questions and guiding them through an introspective journey. This exploration is grounded in the principles of Ikigai, where spiritual and practical elements converge, encouraging individuals to find joy and purpose at the intersection of their passions, talents, and the world's needs. Each room's environment, from its color to its furnishings and text illuminations, serves as a backdrop for this self-discovery, inviting participants to engage deeply with the space and their inner selves.
The entire exhibition is housed within a pool enclosure structure inspired by the "Cool S" or "Super S," a symbol prevalent in graffiti culture since the 1970s, forming a figure-eight shape that further enhances the sense of continuous journey and reflection. Matherly and Noble's work often references themes of self-help, recovery, and interpersonal dependency, utilizing romantic tropes and pop culture iconography to create platforms for intimate exchange. This exhibition, with its blend of subtropical aesthetics and profound philosophical inquiry, epitomizes their distinctive approach to immersive, mixed media installations.
Photos: Zachary Balber & Karli Evans