Arica Hilton, ONE DAY LIKE RAIN II, 48" x 48"

Arica Hilton, I FLOW LIKE WATER, oil on canvas, 48" x 48"

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BELGIN YÜCELEN SCULPTURES

Belgin Yücelen's sculptures are yet another perspective viewers will be able to engage at the BODY & SOUL exhibition.  Her bronze sculptures are introspective, to the point of soul searching.  

REFLECTION shows a man peering onto a body of water while balancing himself on a plateau.  The image is reminiscent of the Greek myth of Narcissus, however, the message conveys a deeper meaning.  The gaze of the figure lingers    not necessarily on the water, which we can obviously see, but has an illumination that is inward bound.  Narcissus finally sees more than just himself.  He sees who lies within.   

Other pieces from Yücelen's collection involve physical, yet soul-searching acts.  Expression and fragments of one's identity extracted from questioning the world and of the self are emphasized in these works.  They display consciousness and being cognizant of both physical and spiritual realms.

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REFLECTION, sculpture

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Sven Asmus moves from Rolls-Royce showroom to art gallery...
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ARICA HILTON


BODY & SOUL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

(in Collaboration with 
Jennifer Norback Fine Art 
and Addington Gallery)

paintings, poetry, sculpture video and jewelry
BELGIN YÜCELEN, ÇETIN ATEŞ, TAMMY KOHL

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WHAT IS SOUL? 
By Arica Hilton

 "How does an artist visually define SOUL?  That was the challenge when I began the exploration and connections of SOUL, combined with and exclusive of, BODY, for my December exhibition at Hilton | Asmus Contemporary.  I have always painted, whether on canvas or in my poetry, an interconnection between the human being and the universe, as in my series, WHERE STARS ARE BORN.  That was the beginning of a lifelong search for the origins of life, my own, and in general.  So where is the link between the elements that comprise a nebula, those clouds of dust and gases in the galaxies far, far away from our earth AND the human SOUL  We know that without the creation and destruction of stars, we would not physically exist.  What is the underlying relationship between that realm of spirit and the physical aspects of the world we live in?  Can we quantify SOUL?

In many mythological, religious, philosophical, and psychological traditions, SOUL is considered incorporeal (meaning, without a body)  and, in many conceptions, the immortal essence of a person, living thing, or object. In ancient Greece, AIR was considered to be incorporeal (movement)  as opposed to EARTH (solid).  The Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, attributed "soul" (anima) to all organisms but taught that only humans are immortal, as in #6 of the Webster definition above.  Other religions teach that all organisms, not only humans, such as animals, plants, rivers, mountains and natural phenomena possess souls. This latter belief is called animism,  where there is no separation between the spiritual and physical world. And then there was Carl Jung, who described the anima and animus as elements of the collective unconscious, a psychic awareness that exists by an accumulation of experience by preceding generations.

So what does this all mean to me?  Is the soul a manifestation of the essence of life? Does it materialize from the mind process? Or is it a separate "thing" that exists in our bodies that the ancient Egyptian Goddess Ma'at can weigh on her scales of truth and justice when a person dies.  

"I have always believed in the centers of the body that collect and distribute energy. I believe that we, as physical beings are more than a collection of atoms, molecules and cells.  We have a brain that is stimulated by thought. But how is thought actually manifested in our brain?  And what about the process of the heart?  Many of us "think" with our hearts, or often with our "gut."  We have the ability to distill feelings and thoughts through various organs of our bodies.  Where and how does that apply to SOUL?  Can we differentiate how the ultimate nature of our spirit interrelates with our bodies?  These are questions that have perplexed me for years. 

When I think of SOUL, I cannot help but think of the word, LOVE.  To me, LOVE is the connector of everything, the link to life, so to speak.  In my poetry and paintings, each is infused with that recognition, in connection with the earth, the air, the stars and beyond.  Perhaps I subscribe to the philosophy of Animism.  All aspects of the elements that comprise the universe permeate through my works.  As far as I am concerned, searching for Soul is searching for Love.  Contrary to popular belief, I believe LOVE is the "grounding" force in  life.  So many people think of love as a weakness, not a strength, as an ethereal, transient, figment of one's imagination.  Very much like SOUL that people think of as an ethereal, elusive, mist of some sort that is separate from the body.  I think the chemistry between LOVE and SOUL is unmistakable, interchangeable. If we believe in a faith-based definition of Soul, then Love is  inexorably intertwined with that concept and thus, the Body becomes the vessel for the intermingling of these various dimensions of consciousness."...... ...to read more please click here

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HILTON | ASMUS
SCULPTURE COLLECTION

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DONALD SULTAN with ROBERT CREELEY
"VISUAL POETICS"

In the tradition of Blake, Morris and "Les Livres des Peintres", "VISUAL POETICS, THE ART OF DONALD SULTAN, 1999, hales from the acclaimed series, Master Contemporary Books. This 17" x 22.5" volume is hand silkscreen printed on museum quality, 300 gram archival Coventry rag paper, Smythe sewn and hand casebound in black Brahma leather, wrapped with a high quality and enduring hide. This limited edition fine art book is in the collection of Museum of Modern Art and along with numerous other museums.  

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ÇETIN ATEŞ  
SCULPTURE

Çetin Ateş's sculptures are a profound yet playful addition to the upcoming BODY & SOUL exhibition. The sculptures echo the kind of inner reflection the show hopes to inspire among viewers, delving into worlds beyond the tangible.

Sculptures such as COURAGE OF THE SHADOW resurrects the Greek myth of the daimon--benevolent guardian spirits which provided guidance and protection to individuals they watched over.  The representation of the daimon in this piece is mystifying and enables a spiritual realm to exist in our reality. 

Ateş's work provokes an assessment of one's past and future, fitting beautifully into  the upcoming celebrations of rebirth during Christmas and the new year.  METAMORPHOSIS is a sculpture that encompasses these gestures as a man literally climbs to his desirable state--a heavenly being. 

The title evokes this magnificent change from one self to another--a process in which we all strive to take part.  The sculptures provide a way for viewers to remember not only their mortality, but the spirits within them, awakening for another wholesome year.

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COURAGE OF THE SHADOW, honed metal sculpture

METAMORPHOSIS, honed metal sculpture

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I AM OCEAN, honed metal sculpture

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DENNIS MANARCHY

METAL

on exhibit at 
Hilton | Asmus Contemporary

Dennis Manarchy "Girl w/Blue Glasses" from the show "METAL" opening reception September 7 at Hilton | Asmus Contemporary

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