YEAR OF THE RABBIT
YEAR OF THE RABBIT
Works by Alyson Soonchan Highsmith
April 1st, 2012 – April 10th, 2012
This particular set of paintings, inspired by the play “Year of the Rabbit”, are portraits of ideas. The paintings explore identity within the context of cultural heritage, romance, isolation, violence and grief. There is a dissonance within human desire: There is a constant groping for the spiritual against the animal, and the individual against the product, but ultimately, when all is viewed from the midst of the strife, absolute distinction of the dichotomies is impossible. The validity of the individual and of all human pursuits is drawn into question, and the response is often to withdraw into a comfortable, silent conformity. These pieces are not meant to be biographical, but like the characters of “Year of the Rabbit”, the players in these paintings are situational concepts. Ultimately, it is all fiction.
