Craig Dorety: Division

Light animation sculptures inspired by ocular migraines that examine our visual limits

Opening on Saturday, 19 April 2014 at Oakland’s Johansson Projects is an exhibition of hypnotic sculpture animations that will have your eyes watering—after you realize you haven’t blinked in a few minutes. In “Division,” San Francisco-based artist Craig Dorety is examining visual limits and perception, bringing our own neurological shortcomings to our attention. Dorety isn’t a typical visual artist; he chose to study mechanical engineering …

The Country of Summer Insects

A nostalgic animated film by Chinese artist Tang Bohua, on the capital city of fireworks

Tang Bohua (TBH) was born in Liuyang, Hunan Province—the Chinese capital of fireworks—a city scattered with Buddhist temples where the locals would ask for protection from the hazards of their risky craft. During his childhood, temples were TBH’s playground. He was immersed in a world filled with traditional imagery of ancient sutra, fascinating tales and colorful frescos—a world that has been fading away and leaving …

Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography

An exhibition featuring the wide range of depth and style from artists across the northern European region

by Laura Feinstein Nordic countries aren’t known for their mild climates. Whether it’s the near-mythic winter darkness of the Scandinavian “polar night,” or the periods of 24-hour light that characterize the Midnight Sun, this is a region of stark contrasts. “Darkness & Light: Contemporary Nordic Photography,” now in its final month at NYC’s Scandinavia House, attempts to celebrate the mysterious effect this bipolarity has had …