Timme Lu, idnwtbhsIl

October 6 - November 10, 2023

One Grand Gallery welcomes Portland-based Timme Lu for his debut solo with the gallery.

i did not want to be here so I left is a collection of ten abstract paintings, prints, and sculptural furniture highlighting shadows, mundanity, angles, lines, and intersections. The exhibition’s title and conception stem from feelings of uncomfortableness. Of not belonging, being seen, or possibly even existing. Countering this hardship, the artist is questioning space as a generalized societal pressure. What might come of pushing against set norms? In leaving, what might remain in the absence of one’s physical body?

The works guide visitors in an intentional loop from the entrance, through the gallery, and back out as if following a presence that was once there. Behind this essence, there lies a deeper consideration, and ultimately ownership, of the self. Vinyl motifs on the wall and ground allude to shadows both staged and literal. The inclusion of mirrored details give pause for a deeper, more personal introspection. Stylistic choices of black and white, raw canvas, and plywood as palette and mediums reflect a bent towards the soft spoken and minimalistic. The four wood and mirror sculptural works are recognizable as furniture yet abstracted in their utility to create an unevenness in form and function. As we walk, we encounter a table as a place to gather, a stool as a place to sit. Yet their presence in the gallery setting is unnerving—the expectation is that we’re still not allowed to touch. The two dimensional works on display highlight entrances, linear intersections, and exits. Texture, light, and opacity further give depth to a tenderness at play.

In recreating a scene of pseudo-domesticity, Timme invites viewers to find comfort in a traditionally uncomfortable space. This exhibition serves as a reminder that leaving is always an option.

Timme Lu is a Chinese-American artist and designer currently based in Portland, Oregon. Born on the east coast, raised on the west, and occasionally drifting in between. His work sits in nostalgia, shapes, senses, and an abundance of self-doubt. With a focus in letterpress and graphic design, most pieces take the form of a book, but recently he has been exploring furniture making. He is inspired by shifts/constants in spaces, soft/hard edges, reflections, and shadows. He is afraid of the dark, heights, and socializing. He loves snacking, fibrous scents, sound/body waves, textures, and staring out windows.


@timmezlu
timmelu.com

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