Profiles of Contemporary Art and - ARTisSpectrum

Anti Liu
Anti Liu’s sensitive yet sharply perceptive
artwork varies between a baroque exploration
of cultural icons and a keenly focused minimalist
exploration into how our visual aesthetic participates
in the creation of a work of art. Large blocks of often
pale ceramic chiseled with thin recesses along their
surfaces articulate for us, through their quiet power
and beauty, just how graceful sculpture can be.
In addition, the artist’s choice of rough, unglazed
terracotta lends a quiet and moving universality
to his works. His subjects range widely, including
art history, aesthetic philosophy, pop culture and
images of terrorism and war. His work at times
contains potent satire or social commentary, and
at other times our attention is drawn to the medium
itself. We get a strong sense of the durable beauty
of his chosen material.
The Armor Bra Terra Cotta & Bronze Patina 17” x 15” x 15””
Despite being an adjunct university professor, Anti Liu’s work is far from academic. His complex figures alternate between
violence, humor, irony and gloom. His bronze, ceramic and terracotta figures draw our attention to their physicality, which gives
them a delicacy that balances out the crisp social scrutiny he brings to his work. Whether his subject matter is body image,
sexuality, everyday objects or minimalist ideas, Anti Liu’s stunning array of work draws our attention to both his subject matter
and his beautiful material.
http://anti.antiliu.googlepages.com
www.Agora-Gallery.com/ArtistPage/Anti_Liu.aspx
Adka (“Andrea Jones”)
Between Moon & City Acrylic & Ink on Canvas 16” x 20”
Slovakian artist Adka (“Andrea Jones”) paints
colorful, whimsical folk-style images that celebrate
the multicultural fabric of our modern world. Inspired
by the rich Slovak traditions and colorful folk art of
her homeland, Adka combines bold colors, abstract
shapes, ornamental flourishes, folk themes, and
detailed imagery to create lyrical compositions defined
by undulating lines, geometric patterns, and freeflowing
forms. From a distance, each acrylic and ink
painting looks like a geometrical abstract image, but
upon closer examination, one can clearly see detailed
figurative forms that dance across the canvas.
In her paintings, Adka orchestrates an assortment of
characters who come to life, each with a story to tell,
whether it is a narrative, a dreamlike vision, or a simple
emotional statement. What results is, as she says, “art
that talks” and instantly captures our attention and
imagination. Here, we are invited to explore all the
patterns and variations of nature, and how our individual lives intersect with these constructs of daily living. Adka explains her
vision in her own words: “My art celebrates life and our ability to overcome even the most difficult obstacles with a smile, which
can be hard, but it’s that perseverance that gives us a reason to celebrate when we ultimately triumph.”
Adka currently lives and works in Greensboro, North Carolina.
www.AdkasArt.com
www.Agora-Gallery.com/Artistpage/Andrea_(Adka)_Jones.aspx
35 ARTisSpectrum