The Human Condition

8 artists examine the day-to-day existence of the 21st century human via innovative figurative artwork.

Westbeth Gallery, April 11 – April 26th. 55 Bethune St, New York, NY 10014
Wednesday-Sunday, 1PM – 6PM
Opening reception: Friday, April 10, 6PM -8PM

Composed of 8 artists who make innovative figurative artwork (video, painting, sculpture,
and mixed media) this exhibition explores ideas of human identity both personal and
cultural. These artists examine contemporary society’s influence in shaping who we have
become and how we perceive each other and ourselves. Each artist explores the
meaning of contemporary life and the broader cultural and social issues that make up
living today.

Exhibiting artists are: Heather Cox, Toni Thomas, Daniel Mirer, Margaret
Murphy, Karla Carballar, Davide Cantoni, Charles Yuen, and Diana Jensen.

Heather Cox, a Brooklyn based artist, identifies what it is to be human down to the
molecular and scientific level. She manipulates her own body, depicting the movement
of her figure through space in works on paper and sculpture. She will be creating a sitespecific
installation in the gallery.

Toni Thomas, based in Newark, makes mixed media works (painting, quilting, collage)
depicting African American mermaids. She has a culturally inclusive take on the
traditional Eurocentric fairy tale.

Daniel’s Mirer’s is debuting a series of photographs depicting young men in uniform. He
addresses issues of masculine identity in contemporary society in this series. He is
based in Brooklyn and is widely know for his architectural photography.

Margaret Murphy’s Toile News paintings combine the historical fabric style of Toile with
images culled from contemporary print media—Including, such recent events as the
Gardner killing and the Boston bombings.

In Charles Yuen’s paintings, abstracted figures interact with the environment—both
emotionally and physically—often morphing between animal and human form, This
Brooklyn artist addresses the way in which the individual is subjected to and sometimes
brutalized by society.

Karla Carballar, originally from Mexico City, is a Brooklyn based video maker.
In her video, “Rosa,” she explores, through movement, the shifting gender identity of an
androgynous young man.

Davide Cantoni depicts figures from third world countries that he finds in the pages of
New York Times. He creates his images by burning paper—this technique references
both the ephemeral nature of newsprint and the momentary nature of fame that the
photographed people experience.

For two years Diana Jensen made paintings of Pizzeria Workers. She referenced found
snapshots she found on the wall of a pizzeria. (Shots of the workers-on duty and off). In
these paintings she investigates the role of the individual with in a group—studying how,
in life, people come together randomly, interact and become close knit community.