Summer days are dwindling but within the (very) green walls of 'The Plant Show', currently on view at 99¢ Plus Gallery, the vibrancy of the season remains on full-display. The exhibition is the second in a series held at the Brooklyn-based gallery exploring common household objects, the first being 'The Lamp Show', exhibited earlier this year and at Collective Design during New York Design Week.
Just like it’s predecessor, 'The Plant Show' brings together an eclectic group of artists and designers to redefine a banal object by responding to an open-ended prompt, to ‘make something that brings plant life into the home’.
‘The shows were born from our interest in how art objects can be brought to life through function, how presenting straightforward parameters gives artists the opportunity to play and explore how function is important to them,’ explains curator and co-director Simran Johnston.
The decision to focus on vessels for plant life was inspired by the gallery’s next-door neighbour – and official plant supplier – Florencia’s Flower Shop, after witnessing how the presence of a lush storefront can transform an entire city block through the daily presence of beauty and life. City-dwellers often have to seek out alternative ways of injecting nature into living spaces, and the range of work in the exhibition reflects that – with 23 artists on view, there are just as many interpretations of the initial concept.
Some have already been exploring the theme in their work – like Adam Frezza and Terri Chiao’s papier mâché plant forms. Others, like David Franklin’s Tentacle Table, which appropriates a standard Kohler sink in a fusion of function and art, and the textured Play-Doh aesthetic of Sean Gerstley's metallic funnel planter, approach it with fresh eyes and a range of perspectives from the literal to the conceptual. One thing is for sure though: each of the objects embodies its own distinct character – a quality we often overlook when we bring objects into our homes.
‘The show was born from our interest in how art objects can be brought to life through function, how presenting straightforward parameters gives artists the opportunity to play and explore how function is important to them,’ explains curator and co-director Simran Johnston. Pictured: a papier mâché trio of plant forms by Adam Frezza and Terri Chiao
The decision to focus on vessels for plant life was inspired by the gallery’s next-door neighbour, Florencia’s Flower Shop. Pictured: a design by Future Retrieval (left) and David Franklin’s Tentacle Table (right)
The exhibition is the second in a series that explores common household objects, the first being ’The Lamp Show’, exhibited earlier this year and at Collective Design during New York Design Week. Pictured: ceramic works by Jake Brodsky (left) and Rebecca Manson (right)
Each of the objects embodies its own distinct character in a range of mediums, as seen through Risa Sama’s vase (left) and Rico Gatson’s graphic painting (right)
INFORMATION
’The Plant Show’ is on view until 11 September. For more information, visit the 99¢ Plus Gallery’s website
ADDRESS VIEW GOOGLE MAPS
99¢ Plus Gallery
238 Wilson Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11237
-
Tread a thoroughly British line with these New Balance Made in UK trainersNew Balance’s latest collection of Made in UK trainers is inspired by the lush palette of British landscapes, from the Lake District to vineyards
-
What the Wallpaper* editors are looking forward to at fashion week, from blockbuster debuts to rising starsThe Wallpaper* style team pick their highlights from the upcoming fashion month, a definitive season as the industry’s major players start their latest chapters, beginning in New York tomorrow
-
‘Landscape architecture is the queen of science’: Emanuele Coccia in conversation with Bas SmetsItalian philosopher Emanuele Coccia meets Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets to discuss nature, cities and ‘biospheric thinking’
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekWith the return of back-to-school, it's back to business for the Wallpaper* team, who’ve been making the rounds at fashion pop-ups and pavilion launches. Elsewhere, we’ve been indulging in new literature and old restaurants, and taking in a farewell exhibition at a landmark gallery...
-
Curtains up, Kid Harpoon rethinks the sound of Broadway production ‘Art’He’s crafted hits with Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus; now songwriter and producer Kid Harpoon (aka Tom Hull) tells us about composing the music for the new, all-star Broadway revival of Yasmina Reza’s play ‘Art’
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekHere in the UK, summer seems to be fading fast. Moody skies and showers called for early-autumn rituals for the Wallpaper* team: retreating into the depths of the Tate Modern, slipping into shadowy cocktail bars, and curling up with a good book
-
Richard Prince recontextualises archival advertisements in TexasThe artist unites his ‘Posters’ – based on ads for everything from cat pictures to nudes – at Hetzler, Marfa
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekAnother week, another flurry of events, opening and excursions showcasing the best of culture and entertainment at home and abroad. Catch our editors at Scandi festivals, iconic jazz clubs, and running the length of Manhattan…
-
The best Ruth Asawa exhibition is actually on the streets of San FranciscoThe artist, now the subject of a major retrospective at SFMOMA, designed many public sculptures scattered across the Bay Area – you just have to know where to look
-
Orlando Museum of Art wants to showcase more Latin American and Hispanic artists. Do you fit the bill?The Florida gallery calls for for Hispanic and Latin American artists to submit their work for an ongoing exhibition
-
The spread of Butter: the Black-owned art fair where artists see all the profitsThe Indianapolis-based art fair is known for bringing Black art to the forefront. As it ventures out of state to make its Los Angeles debut, we speak with founders Mali and Alan Bacon to find out more
