HARA

I am an Artist.
ARTIST STATEMENT for 2007
First Street Gallery Exhibition
Jeremy Hara’s work has often been described as witty, ironic and refreshingly different. Much of his recent work has dealt with the concept of banality, or as he describes “the miraculous transformation of banality to extraordinary.” Hara’s series Studies of Boring Postcards are detailed paintings that transform “boring” images from America’s past (1950’s-60’s) into delicately articulated works that capture the nostalgia and the post-war optimism of the time. These postcards although “boring”, have a real sense of American do-it-yourself consumerism, which is drawn out by Hara’s work. Each intricately rendered work has a feeling of labored love that gives each piece a certain charm and does transform the image from boring to interesting.
Ode to Nothing is another work that came from Jeremy Hara’s exploration of banality. It is one of four in a series of works dealing with Lined or Ruled Paper. In Ode to Nothing, Hara paints a piece of lined paper on canvas on which he composes a poem. The poem ironically is about nothing, which complicates and enriches the interpretation of the piece. At first glance the painting appears to be a poem written on lined paper that is taped to a canvas. Minute details such as the painted “clear tape” and cast shadows are added to complete the illusion. Hara describes this work as “part Zen koan, part trompe l’oeil painting.” In Ode to Nothing Hara captures the magic of trompe l’oeil painting with the wit, brilliance and humor of a Zen koan.
Jeremy Hara Autumn, 2007
From the Empire Squared San Francisco Show.
Study of Boring Postcard "Downtown Business District, Bay Street in Lake County Florida
Watercolor 5"x7"
"Ode to Nothing", A recent Painting by J. HARA
"Ode to Nothing", J. HARA
Oil, Acrylic, Graphite, Ink on Canvas
"Ode to Nothing" (detail), J. HARA
"Ode to Nothing" (detail), J. HARA
"Ode to Nothing" (detail), J. HARA