HyperAbstraction Art SHow/Armory week/Soho NYC

The idea for HyperAbstraction derives from the perception that the visual arts as well as our culture in general are undergoing radical change - that, in fact, a profound transformation has been taking place since the beginning of the new millennium. This change is fueled by the increased complexity of the economic and political environment, resulting in the slow dissolution of historic reference points. The grand ideological and economic models have collapsed and art and culture in general, with their close connection to ideology and to the economics that finances them, find themselves in a bind. This is reflected in the arts morphing and merging with the ever-present stream of continuous entertainment. It is a paradox that the huge impact of the new emerging technologies is speeding up the process of dissolution of certainties and of increased fragmentation in life and in art. As a polar bear floating on a chunk of broken ice, swept towards the Arctic sea by the forces of change outside its control, we are holding on to the echoes and fragments of art movements of the bygone era. In these times of hyper-production and hyper-consumption modernist avant-garde is perhaps our last resort in the search for reference points, but as it is fading away, fragments of clarity are truly welcome.

Tobias Putrih is a sculptor whose work explores architecture as a code for rich social, cultural and economic references. He has a particular interest in the legacy of modernism, specifically cinema theater architecture or modular and participatory design. Tobias is known for his mastery of form and for his use of unorthodox materials.

Paweł Wojtasik is a video artist whose work examines the endpoints of material existence and the vicious cycle of industrial progress. His subjects include society's handling of waste, the destruction of the oceans, treatment of animals and sexuality. The often-disturbing subject matter is rendered in a visually hypnotic and seductive manner. Pawel is currently at work on a large-scale installation Single Stream for the Museum of the Moving Image.

Allan D. Hasty is an artist who explores the process of his own art-making. In this way he directly reflects upon the obsessions and neurosis of the American society. In his work Allan has also been dealing with the dynamics of power and money within the NYC art world.

Emil Memon curator of HyperAbstraction is a multi-media artist. Lately, he has been concentrating on a series of paintings, collectively entitled HyperAbstraction. The paintings reference Street Art and early 20th century art. He is also working on a series of large drawings based on the Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. In this work, Emil is pointing to the need to reconnect with the post WW II ethos of artists such as Mishima, Pasolini, and Fassbinder. Emil is also interested in the idea of self-reliance and artistic independence which he actualizes by organizing shows in non-conventional art settings - the present exhibition being an instance of that idea.

Patrick Orban is making HyperAbstraction possible by opening his residence and helping with the production of the show. Patrick's engagement with the visual arts has been ongoing for many years. His passion for art and sharp critical eye find expression in his collecting and in collaborations with artists - helping them produce their work. He designed his own space with this idea in mind: that it be an excellent place to exhibit and view art.