what we do
AgentC Projects focuses on the role of curator as agent in the development of contemporary art. Working with curators from a variety of realms, we facilitate the exploration of emergent practices, discourse, infrastructure, and events that bring challenging work to fruition, give voice to curators and artists, and enrich community. facebook instagram
HERE. TODAY.
James Kemp | Rhea Paez
Crescent Beach Pop-Up Gallery | May 14 - 31, 2023
This exhibition investigates how the act of making, an artist's choice of materials, and a hyper awareness of that which surrounds us, whether it be personal, socio-political, or environmental, can drive creation and generate discourse.
The practices of artists James Kemp and Rhea Paez are firmly entrenched in process and materiality, and the interrogation of what it means to be here, today. Their visual and conceptually engaging sculptural works explore themes such as society’s distancing from the environment, our impact on nature, as well as human behaviour and the challenge of dealing with internal conflict and trauma.
Their artworks open the door to discourse on difficult topics and encourage us to think about how we fit in the world.
James Kemp explains that his recent works are intended to “convey the instability of our culturally conditioned insatiable manufactured appetites” and while they defy the norms of working with clay, they are firmly embedded in its history. For James clay has many levels of power; it is a material with intelligence, it responds beautifully to his body's movements, ultimately creating a work that is "in the here and now, and is the ideal record of existence".
For Rhea Paez her materially driven sculptures have transitioned from a body of work that examines the external, such as fracking, to more introspective and transformative works. "I employ industrial as well as found organic materials into my pieces, as I am heavily influenced by the visual and metaphysical experiences within infrastructure in urbanity and nature. My pieces are often self-referential, but their quiet and non-abrasive aesthetic is meant to challenge the viewer".
OPENING EVENT: May 20, 2 - 5
DATES: May 14 - 31
HOURS: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Noon-5
WHERE: Crescent Beach Pop-Up Gallery
12160 Beecher Street, South Surrey
The practices of artists James Kemp and Rhea Paez are firmly entrenched in process and materiality, and the interrogation of what it means to be here, today. Their visual and conceptually engaging sculptural works explore themes such as society’s distancing from the environment, our impact on nature, as well as human behaviour and the challenge of dealing with internal conflict and trauma.
Their artworks open the door to discourse on difficult topics and encourage us to think about how we fit in the world.
James Kemp explains that his recent works are intended to “convey the instability of our culturally conditioned insatiable manufactured appetites” and while they defy the norms of working with clay, they are firmly embedded in its history. For James clay has many levels of power; it is a material with intelligence, it responds beautifully to his body's movements, ultimately creating a work that is "in the here and now, and is the ideal record of existence".
For Rhea Paez her materially driven sculptures have transitioned from a body of work that examines the external, such as fracking, to more introspective and transformative works. "I employ industrial as well as found organic materials into my pieces, as I am heavily influenced by the visual and metaphysical experiences within infrastructure in urbanity and nature. My pieces are often self-referential, but their quiet and non-abrasive aesthetic is meant to challenge the viewer".
OPENING EVENT: May 20, 2 - 5
DATES: May 14 - 31
HOURS: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun | Noon-5
WHERE: Crescent Beach Pop-Up Gallery
12160 Beecher Street, South Surrey
previous shows
INDINGENOUS ARTISTS ONLY
Lacie Burning | Whess Harman | Atheana Picha | Kelsey Sparrow Guest Curator | Alanna Edwards SHIFT
Polly Gibbons | Debbie Westergaard Tuepah | Connie Sabo THE UNDOCUMENTED
Chun Hua Catherine Dong PRESENCE
Corey Moreas | Brandon Gabriel | Sonny Assu DRAWING LANDSCAPES
Sandee Moore | Genevieve Robertson | prOphecy sun | Erik Zepka |
CONSUME HER DEMAND
Charlene Vickers | Mary Coss | Monique Motut-Firth FRAGMENTATION and THE SINGLE INSTANT
Cayley Carlson | Caitlan Gray | Shandis Harrison | Hailey Logan | Jess Orrin | Rhea Paez GROSS DENSITY PARCEL
Rosemary Burden | Roxane Charles | Polly Gibbons | Andrew Keech | Don Li-Leger | Cora Li-Leger | Aaron Moran |Helma Sawatzky | Carlyn Yandle | Paul Bucci |