Jessica Hess - "More Is More"
Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present “More is More”, a solo exhibition of new paintings by represented artist Jessica Hess. Widely known for her realist renderings of sprawling urban settings vibrantly soaked in graffiti, this San Francisco- based painter introduces a brand new series of oil works on canvas for this month’s show.
“More is More” elaborates upon Hess’ ongoing documentation of the derelict and the overlooked, while also exploring newfound horizons within her creative process. Executed on an immense scale, Hess’ vivid paintings consist of abandoned landscapes that are both riddled with human gesture and void of any living presence. With a skilled eye for color, perspective and detail, she combs through various urban environments across the country, camera in hand, searching for these striking interruptions amid the stagnant presence of man-made structures. For her new show, Hess pivots her gaze towards moments of visual overstimulation, where environments have been slowly broken down and reimagined by surrounding neglect.
Furthering this initial manipulation taking place in the landscape, Hess also distorts the reality of each subject through various levels of painterly abstraction. In the artist’s own words, “I began making an effort to explore the more expressive under-paintings of my work and preserving some of the happy accidents I would create in the sketching process. It's a shame to cover up these exciting parts of my process and I hadn't felt right doing so for some time.” Her largest piece in the exhibit, titled "No Lifeguard on Duty - Swim at Your Own Risk” portrays an abandoned indoor swimming pool, overlaid with graffiti. The painting shifts between washes of color to grey-scale, creating a warped sense of actuality that balances against the artist’s precise realism.
Hess continues, “I am awake again in studio and finally feel like I am being challenged. My inclusion of raw areas is a slow approach towards the abstraction of my subjects. Abstraction is an idea I am interested in but I believe that successful and informed abstract works are the result of years of observation and dissection of reality.”
Please join us for “More is More”, opening on Saturday, August 1st, with an opening night reception from 6pm - 10pm. The exhibition will be on view through Saturday, August 22nd.
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Jessica Hess, No Lifeguard On Duty - Swim At Your Own Risk, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Brooklyn Bicycle II, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Special Delivery III, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Hidden Treasures I, 2015
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Jessica Hess, The 101 (I), 2015
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Jessica Hess, The 101 (II), 2015
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Jessica Hess, Detroit V
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Jessica Hess, Hidden Treasures III, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Risk, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Back Lot, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Hidden Treasures II, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Rooftops I, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Up On The Roof I, 2015
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Jessica Hess, Up On The Roof III, 2015