May 18 - June 24, 2006

M.Y. ART PROSPECTS is pleased to present the second solo exhibition of Chicago-based artist Mayumi Lake, opening May 18 and continuing through June 24. This exhibition is presented as part of the citywide celebration of Asian Contemporary Art Week (May 22–27, 2006). The reception will be held on Thursday May 25, 6–9pm.

Entitled "My Idol." Mayumi Lake's new photography series revisits childhood romantic fantasies from an adult's point of view.

In some of these works, an adult female engages in intimate companionship with a female doll in the bedroom. Almost identical in size and semi-nude, the two figures resemble playmates in an environment where childlike desire meets sexual gratification. Other works explore the image of a white horse in a grove as an auspicious omen of meeting Prince Charming. Most absurd of all is a moonlit image of a woman sleeping beside a potted tree. Fruit-like objects in the tree's branches bear a mocking resemblance to human sperm. The scene was inspired by an animal behavior called "caching." Prior to winter, some birds store small dead animals and insects by hanging them from tree branches. Is the woman in the picture saving sperm for her unborn child? Or is she just dreaming about it?

Lake seems to be saying that, contrary to everything one learns in life, one tends to discount all the broken promises and stubbornly cling to the hope of finding an ideal friend, lover, companion or partner. At the same time, her images also express a poignant yearning to regain lost innocence.

Originally from Osaka, Japan, Mayumi Lake studied photography at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned a BFA (1997) and an MFA (2000). She also studied at the Rhode Island School of Design (1997-98) and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2003). Since 1997 Lake's work has been exhibited at MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, the Institute of Contemporary Art, London, Fotografie Forum International, Frankfurt, Art In General, and the Asia Society, New York. Her 2005 solo exhibition of "Poo-Chi" at M.Y. ART PROSPECTS was reviewed by Art Asia Pacific and Contemporary Magazine. This fall, Lake will participate in Bangkok International Art Festival.

For Mayumi Lake's photography book "Poo-Chi" (Nazraeli Press 2002),
please CLICK HERE >

May 18 – June 24, 2006 | Opening reception, Thurs., May 25, 6-9pm

M.Y. ART PROSPECTS is pleased to participate in Asian Contemporary Art Week by presenting three emerging video artists from Korea, Taiwan, and Japan-US. (www.acaw.net)

In his recent video work, Moo Kwon Han (born South Korea) explores philosophical and political issues. In "Equalizer," Han juxtaposes the musical movement of his hands and feet and clips from war films illustrating the destructive instinct in human nature. An "equalizer" (i.e. "dialogue") intervenes to temper the excitement of violence and lead to a catharsis involving water—a symbol of Taoism. Han earned an MFA from Dong-Guk University and will graduate this month with an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York.

"Lose Contact" by I-Chen Kuo (born Taiwan) is an evocative documentary art video. In this video captured by a wireless pinhole camera attached to a balloon, the higher the balloon flies, the weaker the signal from the camera. Second by second, the images sent by the camera become blurrier and more unrecognizable, culminating in vivid abstractions followed by a blackout. Kuo studied media art at the School of Art and Technology of the Taipei National University of Art. In the last year alone his work has been exhibited in the U.K., Germany, Italy and China.

Mika Tajima (born CA)'s "Grass Grows Forever in Every Possible Direction" creates a conceptual space by combining the elements of installation, music, sculpture and performance. In this video, the graphic horizontal lines act like a musical staff, and the figures represent notes or measures in a larger score. As the video continues, the lines and figures proliferate into a visual and aural cacophony, and the lines finally obliterate both the figures and sound. Tajima earned an MFA from Colombia University, School of the Arts in 2003. Her work has been exhibited at the Swiss Institute of Contemporary Art (NY), the Walker Art Center (MN) and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center (NY).