ECHOES OF PARADISE
CURATED BY ALEJANDRO JASSAN
Jane Lombard Gallery, New York
June 28th - August 16th, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday, June 28th, 6 - 8 PM
Manuela Benaim, Jean-Baptiste Bernadet, Kadar Brock, Deborah Brown, Henri Paul Broyard, Geoffrey Chadsey, Kyle Coniglio, Cynthia Daignault, TM Davy, Benjamin Edmiston, Hank Ehrenfried, Evan Halter, Matthew Hansel, Andrew Holmquist, Kris Knight, Karolina Maszkiewicz, Kristin McIver, Alicia Reyes McNamara, Azita Moradkhani, John T.D. Murphy, Dominic Musa, T.J. Dedeaux-Norris, Chase Palmer, Jan Rattia, Kathy Sirico, Eva Struble, Xiao Wang
Jane Lombard Gallery presents Echoes of Paradise, a group exhibition curated by Alejandro Jassan. Echoes of Paradise explores the multifaceted significance of the Garden of Eden through the lenses of nature, art history, cultural assimilation, gender identity, and forbidden pleasures.
Echoes of Paradise deconstructs the myth of the Garden of Eden, highlighting how its themes have permeated art and culture across generations and geographies. Throughout art history, the symbols and language of the paradise have been endlessly replicated and reinterpreted. Edenic symbols serve as a bridge between the past and present, revealing the dynamic interplay between historical and modern perspectives. Echoes of Paradise brings this dialogue to the forefront, showcasing how the Genesis narrative has been adapted to reflect varying cultural, social, and artistic milieus. Furthermore, the exhibition sheds light on cultural assimilation and power dynamics, all the while examining how the myth has been integrated and transformed within different societies.
Providing a rich tapestry of visual narratives that reflect humanity's enduring fascination with this primordial story, the exhibition is foregrounded in familiar Edenic emblems-- from representations of the archetypal figures of Adam and Eve to lush landscapes enveloped in flora and fauna. The exhibition also explores the concept of repetition, both symbolically and formally, as a means of illustrating how this myth has echoed through time, morphing across cultures and contexts, evolving yet retaining its core. Through recurring motifs and repetitive brushstrokes, the artists collectively signal the continuous adaptation of this narrative and its impact on collective memory and cultural identity.
Looking to the human body, queer narratives, and feminist viewpoints, Echoes of Paradise challenges traditional gender norms. Disrupting the patriarchal gaze, these works reimagine Eden from perspectives of intimacy, ones that particularly seek to upend stereotypical depictions of gender. Addressing gaps in traditional narratives, the works play with aspects of masculinity, fragility, and tenderness, creating space for alternative perspectives on the human experience as well as critically investigating what inclusivity means from a 21st century vantage point.
Echoes of Paradise invites viewers to reconsider their consumption of imagery, symbols, and narratives. The exhibition not only enriches our understanding of art history but also challenges conventional gender roles, encouraging inclusivity as the approach to storytelling. Together, the artists in this exhibition create a vivid portrayal of paradise as a multifaceted, interconnected, and emotionally resonant place, one that has expanded to include voices and experiences historically excluded from the dialogue.