Exhibitions: Fred Tomaselli

This piece is part of a series Tomaselli began in 2000 based on catenaries (curves formed by hanging a rope or chain between two points). Densely overlapping strands loop horizontally across the picture’s surface, creating a dynamic abstract composition around a central vertical axis. The strands resemble festive garlands or extraordinarily large beaded necklaces laboriously pieced together from brightly hued capsules and caplets; cutout images of eyes, lips, hands, flowers, and insects; leaves from hemp and datura plants; and painted areas of lozenges, circles, and jagged flame-like shapes. These strands might also be interpreted as waves of sound or energy made visible.