Function of [an] Imaginary
April Marten
August 28 - September 29
The Function of [an] Imaginary explores the tension between the human desire for a foreverness and the magnetic pull of institutional promises that define contemporary life.
The space invites personal contemplation, to wonder, to feel, to ask – to emancipate oneself from dominant social structures that push ideas as products designed to fill the impossible god-shaped hole.
Curatorial Statement
I am drawn to the use of iconography in contemporary art as a device to subtly communicate with viewers. It provides conceptual depth yet allows for a personal experience and individual interpretation of the art. Marten’s work focuses heavily on symbolism and what it means for a physical space or object to be a placeholder for an emotion, behavior, or belief. Though her work points out difficult truths in our social systems, April has found her own playful language to pull us into the conversation.
Her use of pastel colors and domestic items in Function of [an] Imaginary draws you in with its softness, femininity, and connection to fond childhood memories. Unexpected alterations such as unusual placement, change in color, or added texture drastically change what these items represent. In The Function of [an] Imaginary, April confronts the delicate overlap between seeking contentment and consumerism, and how ideologies and social systems play into that dynamic.
My fascination with the Frances Wasn’t a Saint series and Function of [an] Imaginary comes from April’s use of modern day materials as representation of the sublime or lack thereof. I would find myself daydreaming about it months later, still asking myself questions and still thinking about how I saw myself in the work. April’s work has always felt otherworldly yet also accessible. Now, Function of [an] Imaginary is available to all.
