Westport, CT - MoCA [Museum of Contemporary Art] Westport announces its Summer Exhibitions featuring the works of contemporary artists Richard Tsao and Sao.
Tsao (born in Thailand, lives in New York City) and Sao (born in Portugal, lives in Southport, CT) both work with color. Either through accumulative (Tsao) or layered washes (Sao), color, pigment and surface are modes in which emotions are conjured, metaphor explored and a sensory experience entices the viewer.
An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 from 6 - 8 PM. The event is free for MoCA Members and $10 for the general public. Advance registration is requested on mocawestport.org.
Richard Tsao: The Constant Gardener
On view June 29 - August 20, 2023
In Richard Tsao’s well-known flood room paintings on canvas and wood, his unrestrained use of color seems to appropriately present itself in just the right balance. He manipulates pure pigment with an alchemist’s instincts in an approach that leaves his work vibrantly colored. With pigment thoroughly encrusting the canvas or wood supports, and with sections of the encrustations sticking out well beyond the supports’ edges, Tsao’s works are less painted than accumulated—they may be years in the making.
Tsao’s Rectangle series of the 1990s does not seem fixed in the physical world. These superb monotypes take full advantage of the possibilities of transferring an oil painting onto paper. In Tsao’s paintings on canvas, the physicality of brilliantly colored paint also becomes architecture; in contrast, these Rectangle works are the distillation of the spirit of color.
These lushly layered abstract works are closely linked to Tsao’s signature vibrantly colored multi-layered flood roompaintings that evoke the lush nature of his native Thailand. Those familiar with Tsao’s color saturated paintings will recognize his unrestrained use of color in Rectangle works and feel enlivened by the luminosity of the accumulated colors.
Sao: Inner Landscapes
On view June 29 - August 27, 2023
Sao's Inner Landscapes is a collection of large-scale paintings on canvas that showcases the artist's unique approach to creating meditative spaces. The artist’s compositions use horizontal lines and gestures suggestive of landscapes, while layers of refined colors are applied to create luminous washes. Through this technique, Sao evokes a sense of depth and serenity within each work.
Sao's keen sensitivity to color relationships and the distilled paint application engage the viewer's senses and bring about an overall contemplative atmosphere to the paintings. Light within each artwork emanates serenity, spirituality and light–these meditative spaces invite viewers to explore and engage with the paintings on a deeper level, both visually and emotionally.
“Richard Tsao and Sao create a spiritual, joyous experience with each artwork, and present the depths of meanings, feelings and relationships we have with color in our lives and in the world at every moment,” explained Liz Leggett, MoCA Westport’s Director of Exhibitions.
MoCA’s new summer gallery hours as of June 29, 2023 are Thursday - Sunday from 12 - 4 PM. Docent-led gallery tours are available on Thursdays and Saturdays at 1 PM.
To learn more about MoCA’s Summer Exhibitions and supporting programming, contact Liz Leggett, MoCA Westport’s Director of Exhibitions, at liz@mocawestport.org or 203/222-7070.
MoCA wishes to thank Expand Media for sponsorship of the Inner Landscapes exhibition.
MoCA Westport also thanks Björn Sao; Jung Lee Sanders, Founder and Director of Art Projects International, NYC; Lilly Wei; and Flynn Thomas for helping to bring this exhibition to fruition.