Night Garden

Co-curated by Angeliki Kim Jonsson and Kate Mothes

October 21 – November 10, 2019

Anna Perach, Brach Tiller, Brent Ridge, Célia Rakotondrainy, Cherelle Sappleton, Ericka Jeffries, Fei Alexei, Guimi You, Hangama Amiri, Hayley Labrum Morrison, Jack Taylor, Kade Marsili, Lily Jenkins, Mahala Miller, Michelle Brandemeuhl, Mira Dalma Makai, MK Bailey, Olivier L. De Serres, Rachael Zur, Runa Ikeda, Timothy Gaewsky, Valerie Savchits, Yen Yen Chou, and Ziba Rajabi

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Young Space is pleased to present Night Garden, encompassing the work of 24 emerging artists from around the world who work across a wide variety of media and subject matter, co-curated by London-based curator and advisor Angeliki Kim Jonsson of Dynamisk, and Kate Mothes of Young Space.

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From Angeliki:

What I looked for when curating this show is the same thing that I always look for:  ‘coherence.’ It is very important to me, and sets the very guideline for my process of curating any artist(s). It is not so much about being ‘unique’ as such, because everyone wants to be unique—today ‘being unique’ seems like the new mainstream. Still, to have a voice and a distinctive style of one’s own is very important, essentially because it becomes the representation and foundation for an artist’s practice.

Of course, it is also crucial to experiment. Contemporary artists today are often multi-artists who work across a wide range of mediums, from oil on canvas to sculpture and textile. But the thread—that which catches our eye and makes us remember that specific artist—is how we recognize and separate a Calder from a Richard Serra, a Basquiat from a Warhol. We know these artists so well. We know their art. And I’ve come to learn, while working so closely both with artists and collectors, that coherence is equally important for both parties. Because of the above reasons it also provides certainty, and that’s a good thing. So as an artist, it is about finding your style, be it the subject matter, medium, color or shape, but it is something that becomes the very essence of one’s art. These are the types of artists that I keep on coming back to, and that the collectors can keep coming back to. This is what has guided me through this curating process and the final group of artists I’ve selected are all confident artists who have found their ‘mojo.’

So under the umbrella term of ‘coherence,’ the figure, the space and the choice of bold colors are predominant concepts within this exhibition. Although these themes are reoccurring there’s little trace of pattern and one is instead mesmerized of the variety of combinations and distinctiveness as each and every individual artist truly stands out. Representing a multitude of nationalities covering all four continents of the world, it is with a true pleasure to present to you, Night Garden.

–Angeliki Kim Jonsson, Dynamisk

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From Kate:

Young Space is run from tables with outlets near them in various coffee shops, split currently between the Upper Midwest and wherever I happen to be in the world for various exhibitions and other projects. Because it sometimes feels like I’m either in the middle of nowhere or just kind of “anywhere,” it can sometimes feel ironically difficult to connect–at least in person. So it was a thrill to be able to meet with Angeliki in London in September to curate the exhibition and really develop an understanding of the concept as we guzzles lots of coffee and tried not to get off on too many conversation tangents about studio visits and shows we were excited about. When you feel the energy connecting in a collaborative process, it’s the most fun. And that’s also what I believe makes this exhibition a powerful addition to this online series — the puzzle pieces fit.

The title Night Garden emerged from a combination of themes in a few artists’ works, exploring landscape, botany, history painting, or the Garden of Eden. Many of these artists also explored various figurative elements in their work, sometimes mysterious and challenging our perception of presence and absence, identity, beauty, memory, and place. Gardens are places we mostly frequent during the day, when the sunlight opens brilliant blooms and we can see our way along paths. At night, they become shadowy, even sinister places where creatures emerge to scavenge in the dark and flowers close up to wait for the return of the light. All nature of things can happen in a garden in night.

Every Young Space online exhibition is different: the artists and the artwork is different; the co-curator is different, and brings a knowledge, aesthetic and perspective that allows for a greater range of ideas to flow and ideas to emerge. Additionally, for artists who share their work for consideration for an exhibition, it’s an opportunity to get their work in front of someone who is constantly taking note of emerging artists and looking for work to include in future projects. And like a physical exhibition, we want a diverse range of work that speaks to a similar sensibility, or is cohesive in some way, whether visually or thematically.

It is a great pleasure to introduce Night Garden, the latest Young Space online exhibition, which came together through serendipitous circumstances, both in the theme that emerged and in the way that it was curated. Angeliki Jonsson and I first met in London early in 2019 and after a couple of energetic conversations, we knew some sort of collaboration was in the cards. It’s wonderful to have been able to invite her to co-curate this exhibition, and we hope you enjoy!

— Kate Mothes, Founder, Young Space