We know that reality is a construct and artistic expression is an attempt to relay one’s interpretation of that construct. Perception is everything—it is personal, how the world is viewed through one’s eyes, and no two people can truly perceive reality the same way, even if those two people happen to be romantic partners. Currently, the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA) is hosting an exhibition called “Terra Incognita,” which explores this concept by showcasing various works by five artist-couples and how despite being closely connected and sharing their lives and experiences, romantic partners have vastly different world views, even when depicting the same landscape, city, concept, or experience in their works of art.
Many find solace in a grounded perception of the world. Those people like to focus on what is, to observe the existing world; to document and witness, not to alter what has already been created in the world but to revel in the natural creativity of our planet and existence. Inspiring landscapes can be found all over the world and that is what artist Stephanie McManus has chosen to capture in her realistic landscape-based paintings. In the exhibition, many of McManus’ paintings depict plains, valleys, and canyons from afar. It can be seen through McManus’ work that what stands out to her and what is important is the ability to take in the view of unpolluted, untainted environments that one may get lost—or found—in. This gives viewers the possibility to have a cathartic experience by gazing into the void of natural structures at a standstill.
Her partner Eric Stoner, on the other hand, has a different perception of the world, or the world he wishes to see. Stoner creates surreal collages that are an amalgam of different objects, places, things, images, or ideas. As if to say that reality is a construct of all experiences, that there is no one thing that can capture its essence, but only a variety of experiences that cannot be entirely summed up. And Stoner puts these experiences together as best as possible to try and relay his point of view. It is a form of surrealism that allows the viewer to get inside Stoner’s head and see his interests, hobbies, personal experiences, and perhaps some semblance of his past and present. The world can be so topsy-turvy at times and Stoner’s paintings show what would happen if all the memories and experiences were to collapse into one vision, at once.
Another artist duo featured in the show is Crystal Yachin Lee and Joe Forkan. Lee’s artwork consists primarily of images that show a wide array of hot air balloons floating aloft in a bright, blue sky that features clouds which are plentiful, but not intrusive in the images. Each one of Lee’s works are framed in a thick, white paneling that gives off the illusion of looking through a window. Cementing the illusion further, one piece is prominently displayed in a doorway, centered between all her other works. It is as if the viewer could open this door and suddenly be in the sky. Lee shows that there is nothing wrong with living with one’s head in the clouds.
Conversely, Lee’s partner Joe Forkan chooses to capture the images of cityscapes in an impressionistic manner. While there is minimal detailing, many of the buildings and objects are boiled down to their basic shapes and structures so that Forkan can focus primarily on color. In some paintings, Forkan takes the impressionism further, harkening back to a kind of pointillism similar to Chuck Close as he constructs the images from colored squares, like the picture has become pixelized or out of focus, but the viewer can still easily make out what is presented to them. Each of Forkan’s pieces, like Lee’s, are bright and vivid which shows that the two may share a reality that is bright or colorful viewpoint, but still differ greatly in what they feel is important to express artistically.
There are still three more extraordinary artist couples featured in the show—Victoria Reynolds and Jeffrey Vallance, Robin Repp and Robert Repp, and Laurie Hassold and Jeff Gillette. Each one of them, displaying largely different views than the last. This insight though, that we as viewers get to achieve, peering into the similarities and shared nuances, is fascinating and lovely. Additionally, there are collaborative pieces displayed as well that shows what it would look like if those worldviews were to collide into a singular existence. This exhibit gives viewers a chance to peek into what individuality looks like in love, to look at reality through different lenses of two lives shared in love.
“Terra Incognita” is on view through October 17, 2020. Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, 117 North Sycamore St., Santa Ana. Admission is free, by appointment only, due to COVID-19. A virtual tour of the exhibit is available at occca.org.
