Dan Lam’s unworldly sculptures dribble ‘Beyond Reality’ at McNay Art Museum

The spheres of art and design evolve and proliferate through an incessant lookout for something novel, never seen before with undertones of familiarity. Although most creative crusades are pursuits of diverse perceptions of beauty, some dare to tread the path of exploring the seemingly grotesque and unconventional. If experimentation entails an irreverence of supposed boundaries, why should the transcendence halt at the pleasant and standard? Stepping beyond practised codes, this oeuvre—verging simultaneously on beauty and grotesqueness—provokes onlookers to contemplate meaning and existence while stimulating feelings of familiarity and wonder.

Internationally acclaimed contemporary artist and social media influencer Dan Lam brings his fantastical technicolour sculptures to McNay Art Museum, based in Texas, United States. In a show titled Beyond Reality, the Texan artist saturates the exhibition space with her eye-catching and drippy sculptural art made out of unconventional materials. The show also includes artworks by three other Texas-based artists—Carlos Donjuan, Angela Fox, and Ernesto Ibañez—who employ an analogous dialect of vibrance, eccentricity, and unpredictability to yield captivating works. "The show features a collection of my work spanning the past 8 years, curated by a team who did an exceptional job selecting pieces that represent the evolution of my work. The exhibition showcases the different threads I've followed in my work, which evolves out of itself," Lam says.

The sculptor’s work is a spirited dance of dichotomies, fuelled by unconventional materials, organic forms, and bright colours. These interlacing divergent themes of the alluring and the repulsive in Lam’s art stimulates the viewers’ mind and provokes a spectrum of responses. Curiosity, play, and fun constitute the foundation of Lam’s work, an experimentation that culminates in intriguing sculptures. The organic silhouettes—covered in spikes, blob-like pieces that appear to melt and drip under the force of gravity—are created with materials such as foams, polyurethanes, resins, acrylics, and polymers. Delicious Monster, one of Lam’s largest drip sculptures to date, is featured in the show alongside some of her dynamic beaded wall pieces such as Wait A Little Longer which features a material the artist has worked with only in one solo exhibition. "I don't have a specific design philosophy, but I rely on intuition and experience to create my work. My goal is to produce pieces that resonate with people on a deeper level than words alone," shares the artist.

Mexican-American graffiti artist, painter and art teacher Carlos Donjuan’s passion for art was ignited through cartoons, comic books, and graffiti art—influences evident in his practice even today. His imaginative creatures, masked figurines, and vivid murals reiterate these childhood inspirations, juxtaposed with his professional know-how. Angela Fox takes cues from a host of sources including animation, quilting, and mediaeval illuminated manuscripts. Her artwork emphasises self-discovery through a hero-warrior paradigm, frequently featuring mighty women in fantastical milieus. Painter and sculptor Ernesto Ibañez morphs mundane materials such as carpentry nails into intricate sculptures of animal-like forms—some familiar life-like figures, and others enchanting hybrids or playful monsters. “While social media provides immediate global accessibility and recognition for artists and their work, museums continue to play an important role by providing a deeper connection between the viewer and the art,” shares Liz Paris, McNay Collections Manager and co-organiser of the exhibition. “The work by these artists exudes a playful, tangible richness and complexity that goes beyond a photograph; the in-person experience is the reward,” she adds.

The McNay Art Museum, since its inception in 1954, has unerringly engaged a diverse community in the discovery and enjoyment of the visual arts. Their latest exhibition offers a glimpse into a burgeoning and popular sect of art that thrives in extremes—whether it is an otherworldly shape or a blinding (techni)colour palette of neons. What also comes to light is the role social media platforms play in accelerating young practices, such as Lam’s to the limelight—enunciating how significantly the world online drives ‘real’ journeys. From sculptures inspired by nature and the human body to others reminiscent of candy-coloured desserts or mysterious and toxic sea creatures, the playful entities thoughtfully explore the space between allure and repulsion. Beyond Reality is an invitation to step into a universe of the brilliantly colourful and alluringly tactile—a dive into a space where notions of beauty and appeal are distorted and one cannot help but stare.

Beyond Reality’ will be on view from March 22 to August 13th, 2023, at McNay Art Museum In Texas, United States.