Hot, Opalescent, Thick Tears That Poets And Lovers Shed

Vladimir Nabokov was rejected by five American publishers before he finally gave in and debuted Lolita in France. His controversial masterpiece has been often deemed an erotic novel instead of a literary one, but nonetheless remaining a relevant monumental work of art. While the story is a perverse one, seen through the mind of the male protagonist, Humbert Humbert, there is no question that it changed the way work was to be read and stretched the boundaries to what could be written. In a similar light, the practice of censorship over artistic works containing nudity is nothing new to the world. Laws of obscenity exist in most urban societies, and aim to prevent the unwanted exposure of obscene images from the public eye. However, as everything in this universe is fluid, and no definition is exempt from change, we should adapt to new technologies and institutions — including the way they are used as artistic mediums. James Chen Projects is pleased to Present Hot, Opalescent, Thick Tears That Poets And Lovers Shed, a photography exhibition consisting of new work from Luis Corzo and John Yuyi, two artists heavily ingrained in the complexities of the digital age. Art is meant to disrupt master narratives. Over time, everything becomes redefined and reconstructed. The work in the show conveys this idea of renewal through images that are either created through new platforms or made with the intention of disrupting the content found within. Packaging is a collaboration between the two artists meant to engage dialogue on the issue of nudity and censorship within social platforms. The photographs consist of Yuyi modeling with packaging materials along with Matisse-like cut-outs, lacking any suggestion of sexuality or erotic themes. The materials do well to conceal the emotional quality and individuality of the subject, bringing specific attention to the beauty of the picture. Apart from the collaboration, the exhibition also features new individual projects from both artists.不在 is a series that Corzo created by hiring a model in Japan for a photo shoot. From his studio in New York, Corzo photographed his Macbook screen with a medium format vintage camera while the model (Reika Fuji) posed from her apartment in Tokyo. He takes something that has always been romanticized as an intimate practice and places it within the context of today, where it is possible to still capture the same beauty through an online digital medium. Coincidentally, Yuyi’s new body of work comes a recent trip to Tokyo. Her charisma projected on social media plays a large role in her artist career, and enables her to produce work nomadically. The works exhibited continue her conversation on the Western notion of narcissism and the temporality of content in the social media world. Luis Corzo (b. 1990, Guatemala City, Guatemala) is an artist based in Brooklyn, NY. He received his BFA in photography and contemporary creation at IDEP, Barcelona in 2012. Corzo works mainly with photography but constantly experiments with drawing, film and mixed media. His main focus is exploring the world of digital communication, human activity and the space in which they inhabit. His work has been exhibited in New York, Miami and Barcelona. John Yuyi (b. 1991, Taipei, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese artist who lives and works between Taipei and New York. She received her BFA in fashion design from Shih Chien University in Taipei in 2013. Her productions have allowed her to tread the line between fashion and art. Through photography, design, and installation, Yuyi incorporates an aesthetic reminiscent of her time studying apparel along with a tinge of humor that comes from her own personality. Her work has been shown in venues within New York, and published in numerous publications including I-D and Nylon Magazine. During the course of the exhibition, the gallery will double as a space for artists, friends, and family to come together and share ideas or have conversations. There will be a performance by artist and curator, Jaeyeon Shin.

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