Marcus Oakley exhibit in NYC!

[kanako]

You're invited to join Marcus Oakley for the opening of his latest solo show!

gallery hanahou presents

Pictoral Aural: Visual Interpretations of Music by Marcus Oakley

May 22 - June 25 2008

gallery hanahou

611 Broadway, Suite 730 NYC

www.galleryhanahou.com

Opening reception with the artist: May 22, 6-9 pm

Talk and workshop with the artist, "What Does Sound Look Like?": May 23, 11 am (RSVP required to attend)

gallery hanahou presents the musically-inspired artwork of UK artist Marcus Oakley (marcusoakley.com), whose cheery paintings capture the color, form, and sentiment of various songs from the 1970s and '80s. This syneshestically-pleasing collection of new original works will delight the eyes and beckon the ears to hear sounds from decades past.

Please join the artist for the opening reception on Thursday, May 22, 6-9 pm at gallery hanahou. RSVP [email protected] to attend.

The artist will also hold a talk and workshop, titled "What Does Sound Look Like?," on May 23, 11 am at gallery hanahou. The talk will include a discussion and Q&A, plus an interactive workshop in which participants will be encouraged to use visual mediums to explore what sound looks like to them. (This event is free of charge, but please RSVP [email protected] to attend.)

Marcus Oakley is admired for his charmingly simple style that at once exudes both nostalgia and currency. His illustrations have been published worldwide, and he has exhibited in solo shows in London, New York, Milan, and Edinburgh.

More about Pictoral Aural

"Pictoral Aural" is a showing of new works made by Marcus Oakley that comprise visual interpretations of music. The works - beguilingly simple and direct - are comprised of abstract and pictorial imagery derived from Marcus's particular worldview. The 1970s and '80s are clearly a huge influence on Marcus's work, in terms of fashion, design, music, pastimes, crafts, and architecture. Some of the musical style and hybrid forms alluded to in the works include: soft rock; synth rock; folk; folk rock; country; lo-fi; independent; electronica and experimental musics. While each piece is based on a song, there is no overarching system. Marcus notes, "some of the works might illustrate the lyrics or the title of the song, while other pieces are expressions of how the song makes me feel - and others might be somehow trying to analyze songs in term of color, form, and structure."

"Pictoral Aural" reminds us of how music can fuse the senses. It can prompt us to "see" sound; or "hear" color, form and structure in the movement of sound waves through the air - and it can take us out of the present and project us into the past or future. It is clear that part of music's power is that it can't be pinned down to just one meaning or effect. This chimes with Marcus's overall philosophy of positivity and appreciation of how we can find inspiration all around us. Commenting on the works, he notes that "the images are also simply about things I like drawing: animals, people, trees, buildings and sometimes abstract patterns."

Marcus discusses "Pictoral Aural" and his new work in an interview with Mary Jo Matsumoto on Trust Your Style:

http://www.trustyourstyle.com/2008/0...s-bicycle.html

More about Marcus Oakley / www.marcusoakley.com

Marcus Oakley grew up in Norfolk and was educated at the Norfolk Institute of Art & Design and the Camberwell College of Arts, from which he graduated in 1993.

After leaving Camberwell, Marcus worked for Paul Smith as a T-shirt and print designer. Sebsequently, he began a career as a freelance illustrator, and since then, he has worked with clients worldwide, including Levi's, UNIQLO, Random House, and The New York Times Magazine, among many others.

In recent years, Marcus's personal work has been inspired by the music, architecture, fashion, and typography of the 1970s. He has exhibited his drawings and paintings in solo shows in London, New York, Milan, and Edinburgh.

In 2008, a book of his work titled The Idea of Something was published by Izrock Pressings.

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CWC International + gallery hanahou

646.486.6586

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www.galleryhanahou.com