Lookout & Wonderland at These Days | ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE: Knowing, Ignorance And Being
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ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE: Knowing, Ignorance And Being is a collaborative, narrative based work by husband and wife, Yusuke Tsukamoto and Niki Livingston of naturally dyed and appliquéd flags that examines the nature of consciousness and personal reality.
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Throughout history man has used cloth to fabricate banners with distinctive designs and coded sets of colors to be used as symbols, signaling devices and as decoration. Over time these devices have evolved into a general tool for rudimentary signaling, identification and as a form of nonverbal communication.
Applying the basis of this form, it is Tsukamoto and Livingston’s intention to examine the nature of personal reality, knowledge and the limitation of knowing on perceived matter. Using botanical dyes to create their uniform colors, they have cut and assembled a representational narrative out of cotton and hemp to study the conundrum of universal non-duality, the origin of consciousness and the modern mind.
James Frederick Ferrier suggests in Philosophy of Consciousness,
What is it but the act of consciousness, the act of becoming "I," the act of placing ourselves in the room which sensation and passion have been made to vacate? This act may be obscure in the extreme, but still it is an act of the most practical kind, both in itself and in its results . . . For what act can be more vitally practical than the act by which we realize our existence as free personal beings?
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Lookout & Wonderland is a creative studio based in Los Angeles, California founded by Niki Livingston and Yusuke Tsukamoto with a focus on design, textile and the art of creation. Their studio is deeply informed by the essence of the Vienna Secession, Wiener Werkstätte, the persistent aspiration to achieve Gesamtkunstwerk and to create beautiful work that will assist in building a life that is the ultimate work of art.
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These Days is a gallery and shop in Downtown Los Angeles founded by Jodi and Stephen Zeigler. Longtime residents of Downtown's Historic Core and native Angelenos, they have been operating the space as "118 Winston" since 2009 for events and by appointment.
"We did shows when we wanted and were normally only open for events and by appointment as Jodi and I both worked [in the photography world] a lot; as well as Winston St was pretty gritty and not ready for the kind of gallery we wanted."
In October 2014, with the transition of the neighborhood, the Zeiglers reemerged as These Days. Continuing with back to back gallery shows and adding retail, These Days features emerging artists, collectible and out-of-print photography books and zines, modern and vintage design objects, original art and more.
"Jodi and I always wanted to have a community oriented arts space to promote the artists, makers, and books that we love."
All images and words courtesy of These Days
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Opening Reception : Saturday, June 11, 7-10 PM
On View : June 11 – July 31, 2016
