Opening Reception: Saturday, November 12, 8-11pm

Merry Karnowsky Gallery is proud to present 96 Tears, a solo exhibition by Christopher Conn Askew. A reference to the song of the same title by ? and The Mysterians, the artist expressed that he finds a solace & familiarity in the lyrics that have two lovers often at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum never meeting in the middle. Beyond the more known interpretation of tears as sadness lies the symbol as a cleansing potion, an internal meditation and washing of the soul.

Christopher’s work is both ambiguous at moments while still rich with symbolic meaning. Often tight in its illustrative, graphic representation, as with all artists, he is ever changing.

In his current body of work, Chris has found this fluidity and a mystical side has evolved in his work. There now live flower like creatures and organically masked women with a more serene expression reflective of the artist’s meditative side. Still true to his own classic symbols, the work is filled with militaristic reference that represent a dramatic battle scene going on inside the mind of the artist and often times a reflection of the world around him. Propagandist colors speak of controlling regimes and the world of tattooing that the artist himself has emerged from. Words in Latin, Greek, Russian, English, enhance the visual mystique and hidden emotional context of the imagery; paintings rich with symbolism and characters walking a thin line between martyrdom and aggression.

For more information, please contact Merry Karnowsky at [email protected], 323.933.4408

Press Contact: Jessica O’Dowd [email protected]