By Armando Sultan –
A half-squirrel, half-human, and half-bee sculpture, created by artist Amy Swartele, hung near the entrance of the gallery in NJCU’s Visual Arts Building. On October 7 the art department featured a series of works in a show called “REvulsion.”
Attendees ranged from various art professors all the way to the president of NJCU, Sue Henderson.
The faces of everyone that entered the show weren’t expressions of shock, or disgust; rather, they were fascinated.
These reactions helped make this gallery show beautiful and disturbing at the same time.
Art tends to take many forms: from the unbelievably realistic, to the world of the surreal. In this case, it took the form of the dark and deformed concepts that surround us. Whether it was Michelle Doll’s paintings which questioned beauty, or Seughwui Koo’s rendition of narcissism, the question of “What is defined as grotesque and beautiful?” was thrown at us the viewer, to define for ourselves.
“I am ecstatic that all my hard work was pulled together, and I am glad everyone is enjoying my vision just as much as I am,” said Panida Suwannawisut, curator of REvulsion, and a current studio at NJCU.
The show featured art that was both surreal and personal was envisioned highlight body modifications and the deep physical insecurities some people have. Amy Swartele featured two wonderfully crafted creatures that were so real people had to take a closer look to make sure they weren’t being deceived. Michelle Doll, an NJCU professor, exhibited two overwhelming oil paintings; heavy strokes and intense action gave these canvases a captivating presence.
Lastly, Koo’s piece, named “Narcissism,” also captured everyone’s attention; seven solid, colored, realistic human figures with pig heads were lined up side by side, with each head looking down at the mirror below its feet. This piece was set in the middle of the gallery floor, and encapsulated the very definition of narcissism.
“I will continue to curate and coordinate shows,” said Suwannawisut. “Working with artists, and art in general, is a passion of mine. My goal is [to] continue to organize gallery shows in the Jersey City and Brooklyn area[s].”
