CURATED BY RAKEEM CUNNINGHAM

Ochi Projects is pleased to present “Hard Concept, Soft Material”, a group exhibition of works by Areli Arellano, Rachel Apthorp, and Sean-Kierre Lyons, curated by Rakeem Cunningham. The exhibition will be on view from January 11 – February 15, 2020 with an opening reception on January 11 from 6-9 PM.

“Hard Concept, Soft Material” explores the ways in which the effects of marginalization, here largely through the critical lens of race and gender intersections, can manifest. Veering from a more didactic approach, Arellano, Apthorp and Lyons instead rely on the oft relegated materiality of softness.

Using textiles, plush, faux fur and nylon, among other materials, Arellano, Apthorp and Lyons create a vibrant and immersive sculptural installation, extending an invitation to engage with the hard concepts addressed in the work through the approachability of soft material.

Rachel Apthorp (b. San Fernando Valley, CA) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is motivated by investigating the relationships between gender and society, the lack of agency possessed by women’s bodies, and the impact of trauma on those bodies. Her practice establishes a visual language for such ineffable ideas through a variety of approaches to image and object making, with a primary focus on soft sculpture and installation. With an interest in abusive power structures, her work explores tactics of abuse such as coercive control, psychological manipulation, and violence. Visceral bodily functions, internal organs and external limbs, lifeless caricatures of bodies, and text relating to psychological torment permeate every installation she creates. Apthorp received both a BA and MA in Studio Art, with an emphasis in Painting and Sculpture, from California State University, Northridge. Her work has recently been exhibited at the Brand Library Art Gallery in “Valley Girl Redefined,” at Monte Vista Projects in “Wholly Coast!” and in “SPIN” curated by WOW Project LA at WeHo Wash.

Areli Arellano is an interdisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in textile and soft sculpture. She received her BFA from Azusa Pacific University, where she studied interdisciplinary art. A first-generation Chicana, Areli's work delves into issues revolving around gender and race. Exploring the juxtaposition between hard concepts and soft materials, she creates pieces with faux fur and other plush fabrics. The bright colors and textures draw viewers in, while the messages behind her work offer a place for reflection once they are fully captivated. Areli wants to create safe spaces for people of color, specifically women of color. She creates work that reminds POC of home while simultaneously challenging those in positions of privilege and power.

Sean-Kierre Lyons (b. Salinas, CA) lives and work in Brooklyn, NY. Lyons works primarily in sculpture and installation, which are derivatives of black folklore and personal experiences. They address ideas of exclusivity and ownership, making space for dialogue surrounding the reclamation of group identity and oral traditions. In referencing folkloric characters from the Antebellum period, they examine their cultural influence from the plantation-era South to the contemporary. Recent exhibitions include: “Sean-Kierre Lyons: Mmhhmmmmmm” (2019) at Larrie in New York City, participation in the “Women’s History Museum Biennale: Poupées Gonflabes” (2019) at the Springsteen Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland and “BLACK/DOG” (2017) at Housing gallery in New York City.

Rakeem Cunningham is a visual artist and photographer based out of Los Angeles, California. Born in 1992, his work explores themes of self-identity, queer politics, identity politics, self-acceptance, and the navigation of body politics under the queer landscape. Cunningham studied Design and Media Arts at UCLA and is a current member of Montevista Projects in Los Angeles. Cunningham has shown in the Castelli Art Space, Southbay LGBT Center, Los Angeles LGBT Center, the TAG Gallery Loft, and the Littman and White galleries in Portland, Oregon.