Paper plates replace brushstrokes in Jacob Hashimoto’s structural, layered works — Colossal
Jacob Hashimoto’s work cannot easily be classified as two- or three-dimensional. Instead, his mixed media works play with the boundaries between the two, fusing traditional craft practices with painting, printmaking, sculpture and installation.
Hashimoto’s work ranges from multi-layered wall pieces to large-scale, site-specific installations made from hundreds (sometimes thousands) of kite-inspired paper and bamboo disks. They are screen-printed in acrylic and painted in vibrant colors and patterns that almost vibrate when layered with long strings, stretched between a system of nails or suspended from the ceiling.
The artist’s eponymous solo exhibition, opening this week at Miles McEnery Gallery, highlights his ongoing interest in “reconstructing brushstrokes into modular units,” according to a statement. “Hashimoto breaks down the most basic conventions of painting (brushstrokes, marks, surfaces) into discrete, discernible
form”.
Each translucent disc is carefully arranged to create a multifaceted composition in which various patterns tumble, branch and blend in multiple layers. Combining the individual components into an overall structure, we feel that intuition guides the arrangement, while setting parameters (as distinct from the edges of the canvas) ultimately determine the layout.
Likewise, the disc’s continuity and pixel-like quality suggest they were planned ahead of time. Hashimoto often uses 3D computer modeling software to lay out overall works, especially large-scale installations, to a high degree of precision.
The exhibition opens in New York City on October 30 and runs through December 20. Delve into the archives to read some of Hashimoto’s insights in the Colossal interview, and visit the artist’s website and Instagram for more work and updates.
