Friday, October 6, 2023

In ‘Doom & Bloom,’ Lisa Ericson Illuminates the Surreal Impacts of Rising Sea Levels

a snake wraps around a branch and monarchs surround it

“Extinguish.” All images courtesy of Corey Helford Gallery, shared with permission

Magical, surreal companionship characterizes Lisa Ericson’s hyperrealistic paintings in acrylic, which depict unusual pairs of species in easy coexistence. The Portland-based artist (previously) is known for illuminating flora and fauna and emphasizing the impending impacts of the climate crisis, particularly rising sea levels that in many of her latest works, encroach on her subjects’ environments. She shares about her chiaroscuro-style works:

I use the black background to create the drama of the spotlight on my chosen subject. It singles them out, exposes their every tiny detail, and creates a void of the unknown around them. In that way, each piece becomes an intimate portrait. I think of the animals in my paintings as simultaneously representing the natural world and also reflecting our own human struggle and emotion. I like to draw parallels between the two.

On view this month at Corey Helford Gallery, Ericson’s solo show Doom & Bloom features six portraits of animals that accentuate the devastating effects of a warming planet. In “Chariot,” a turtle carries an entire ecosystem across the road, while “Edge of Night” portrays a fox trapped on a tree stump blossoming with pink coneflowers. Each painting harnesses the intrigue of vivid color to draw the viewer in while also serving as a poignant reminder of what’s at stake, and the title of the exhibition suggests that gloom isn’t the only option amid such heartbreaking circumstances.

Doom & Bloom is on view in Los Angeles from October 7 to November 11. Head to Instagram to glimpse Ericson’s process and how these paintings came to be.

 

a turtle carries an entire ecosystem of plants and animals across the road

“Chariot”

a fox is trapped on a tree stump with coneflowers growing around it

“Edge of Night”

a detail image of a fox's fur and pink coneflowers

Detail of “Edge of Night”

a fawn curls up on its mother's back with birds in her antlers. water rises to her midsection

“Mother”

a snake in a roadway surrounds an ecosystem of plants, birds, and chipmunks

“Fortress”

a chipmunk stands in the middle of flowering succulents

Detail of “Fortress”

a spotted cat stands on the top of a tree stump blooming with flowers while the sea rises around it

“Territorial”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In ‘Doom & Bloom,’ Lisa Ericson Illuminates the Surreal Impacts of Rising Sea Levels appeared first on Colossal.



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