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Newly opened in May, MPG gallery is a welcome addition to
the Newbury Street contemporary art scene. Its first exhibition,
Rock, Paper, Scissors, features four local artists loosely
united by an interest in natural materials, hues and forms.
The title, inspired by the childhood game, alludes to the
playful quality of many of the works and the range of materials
used in the sculptures, mixed-media pieces, and works on paper.
One marvels at Aparna Agrawal's ability to make simple forms
and materials highly evocative. Tombstones, a group of paper
and wax shapes on wire stands, is calming and pleasant. Assembled
en masse, nothing distinguishes a tombstone from the other-
just as death is the ultimate leveler. The intriguing tent
shape of One Thread, compels you to peer inside a small opening
where paper clothes literally hang by a thread. In Mines,
fourteen paper flames mounted in cylindrical metal bases resemble
both a minefield, and votive candles, creating images of destruction
and offerings of lives lost.
This interesting exhibition is memorable for the tactile,
earthy quality shared by most of the art. The sensitive treatment
of humble materials creates surprisingly potent works. This
delightful mix gets the gallery off to a promising start. |