School of Visual Arts presents “Brokedown Palace,” an exhibition of work by SVA students and recent graduates selected by a jury of their peers. Organized by SVA Galleries, “Brokedown Palace” is on view Saturday, April 30, through Thursday, May 19, at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, New York City.

“Brokedown Palace” features work that uses improvisation to push the boundaries of their mediums through formal and conceptual experimentation. Through painting, video, photography, sculpture and installation, the work on view challenges ideas inherent in their structure and process, while respecting the traditions of their respective mediums.

Participating artists include Crystal Wai Man Chan, Elena Chestnykh, Ruth Freeman, Michal Geva, Raymond Hwang, Andrew Jilka, Lawrence Pitts, Alex Romero, Goeun Seo, Poyen Wang and Hiroka Yamashita.

Crystal Wai Man Chan (BFA Fine Arts) creates visual landscapes using photography, painting and video to reflect on the ways in which the body expresses emotion and personal sentiment.

Elena Chestnykh’s (MFA Fine Arts) paintings depict a person’s emotional experience during change.

Ruth Freeman’s (MFA Fine Arts) abstract paintings lie somewhere between analog and digital, and depict visual results discovered by turning on or off certain layers, creating glitches in an attempt to digitally perfect drawings.

The multi-paneled surfaces of Michal Geva (MFA Fine Arts) represent formal and thematic conflict, referring to social, political and emotional structures.

Raymond Hwang’s (BFA Illustration) paintings are created as a spontaneous reflection of his thoughts, tendencies and frustrations.

Andrew Jilka’s (MFA Fine Arts) paintings optimistically take ownership of the deficiencies he finds in his painting process.

Lawrence Pitts (BFA Illustration) expresses imaginative concepts through illustrative gouache paintings.

Alex Romero (BFA Fine Arts) repurposes textiles and fabrics in order to create meaning from utilitarian materials.

Goeun Seo’s (MFA Design) colorful paintings are playfully constructed dream-like scenarios that imagine figures in surreal landscapes.

Poyen Wang’s (MFA Computer Art) video installation To the Stranger Who Meets Me in the Darkness offers a sense of security and belonging to the gay male community, who are rejected by mainstream society.

Hiro Yamashita’s (BFA Fine Arts) installation of masks challenges the relationship between social conventions and ceremonial behavior, routine and folklore.

Juried exhibitions are a way for SVA’s student body to recognize the achievements of their classmates. Artists are selected from a large pool of applicants through a rigorous examination of presented materials, including documentation of work and artist statements.

Exhibition

Brokedown Palace

SVA Chelsea Gallery

Reception