Exhibit 1: Nick Van Woert: Pink Elephants on Parade

       Nick van Woert’s art practice originates from his interest in architecture, nature, ancient history. He was born and grew up in Reno, Nevada where makes this artist in the city between garish construction and plain natural scenery of the surrounding desert. Nature creates things and city creates things are two fairly distinct ways. At the same time, it provides Woert a symbolic and conceptual inspiration. His works are closely linked with abstract expressionism and often create classic sculpture’s busts by using all kinds of plaster and other material such as oil paint that give his work with meaning and height. The contemporary sculptures in the exhibition Pink Elephants on Parade that produced by everyday materials and mixed by the classical forms and references.

       Woert studies architecture during the university, which has a significant influence on his artistic work. His greatly interested in the architecture construction which including the “Primitive Hut” proposed by the Roman civil engineer and architect Mrcus Vitruvius Pollio. The modernism emphasizes the faithful to material and do not hide the structural strength. He also focuses on the evolution of building materials and uses this evolution to develop a dialogue between the materials. He even borrows the material formula from eco-terrorism. For example, the materials like polyurethane, steel products, fiberglass, hair gels, and other ingredients. When you mix some of materials together, it could be produce the destructive effect. In most of his works, Woert creates a combination of new classical aesthetics and the use of extreme contemporary materials. For instance, the use of ancient bronze statue re-assesses the standard of the classical sculpture. He explores the contemporary moment’s conditions and terms. The past characteristic simply fade away by Woert, he gives them a strange and timeless characteristic.  He regards our body as a reflection of the environment because he believes that we are influenced by the surrounding environment and things.