Arik Levy Creates a World "Absent Nature"

By Ali Trachta in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 28, 2008 4:35PM

The work by Arik Levy, Paris-based modern artist currently exhibiting at Wright in West Town, appears to be from another universe. He explains that in his Absent Nature installation "every facet of these elements represents the absence of nature and the work appears as if from an alternative civilization." We stopped by the opening last Friday to see for ourselves.

We know people have strong opinions about modern art. Either they become enthralled by the apparent high-brow profundity, or they just insist a monkey could do it. After walking through the exhibit we found ourselves somewhere in the middle. Made up of practically blinding neon light fixtures, videos running on a loop and wooden structures, there were a lot of different elements to see. True, just about anyone can wrap plaster of paris around wooden logs, but the light installations made of thousands of tiny neon lights and hung like chandeliers were impressive, and magnificently crafted.

Following the lead of the exhibits’ title, Levy seemed to recreate natural events in their most unnatural forms. Wooden logs rigged up like explosives seemed to simulate fire. The series of neon chandeliers seemed to represent the sunlight, in its most unnatural form, moving across the sky. The constant rapping noise we heard finally led us to the the videos of trees being cut down, which were playing on computer monitors that had been toppled over, seeming to represent the fallen tree itself.

As is sometimes the case with modern art, we’re not sure if we got all the answers right, but we determined the exhibit is worth a look for making us imagine a completely alternative world.

The Absent Nature exhibit is at Wright, 1440 W. Hubbard, now through May 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

Photo courtesy of Wright website.