ArtSystems Gallery is pleased to present Adriel Nguyen: Perception of World  This third solo exhibition with the gallery confirms Nguyen as a major talent. Adriel Nguyen: Perception of World opens on October 26, and runs through December 14, 2024.

Opening Reception: October 26, 6-9pm
Exhibition Discussion: lead by Guest Critic, Liam Sargent at 7pm

Adriel Nguyen’s art offers a compelling exploration of memory and landscape, revealing how our recollections of places shape our perception of the world. Through her use of abstraction, fragmentation, and immersive installations, Nguyen creates landscapes that serve as both personal and collective memoryscapes. Her work captures the elusive and shifting nature of memory, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences and emotional connections to the landscapes she portrays.

Adriel Nguyen

Naugatuck

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00010

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

Coming around the Bend

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00011

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

Checking out Peter's Rock

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00013

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

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2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00001

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

Up on the Ridge

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00002

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

Edgewood

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00003

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

Below Cedar Hill

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00004

30,000

Adriel Nguyen

New Haven Green

2023

Oil on canvas

40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

NGU-00006

30,000

Explore our Exhibition!

In the contemporary art world, the quest to evoke a sense of openness—where viewers experience a profound sense of freedom and expansiveness—can be deeply intertwined with how landscape, light, and space are manipulated. Adriel Nguyen, an innovative artist, stands out for her distinctive approach to these elements. Nguyen’s work deftly explores and redefines our understanding of openness, using landscape, light, and space as crucial components to engage and immerse viewers in her artistic vision. This essay examines how Nguyen’s art employs these themes to create environments that invite both reflection and a profound sense of freedom.

Adriel Nguyen’s handling of landscape is instrumental in crafting her sense of openness. Her landscapes are not merely depictions of natural scenes but rather expansive, immersive experiences that transcend traditional boundaries. Nguyen’s approach often involves a deliberate simplification and abstraction of the landscape.

Use of Light 

Light is a pivotal element in Nguyen’s art, serving as both a practical medium and a conceptual device. Her manipulation of light goes beyond mere illumination; it is integral to how she shapes spatial perception and enhances the sense of openness in her work.

Nguyen’s series showcases her innovative use of light to transform landscapes into immersive environments. By experimenting with various light sources—ranging from natural sunlight to artificial projections—Nguyen creates dynamic, ever-changing effects that alter the viewer’s perception of space. Her use of light often involves creating contrasts between illuminated and shadowed areas, which serves to expand the visual space and enhance the sense of depth. The subtle interplay of light and shadow in her work invites viewers to explore the spatial dimensions of her landscapes, fostering a feeling of boundless freedom.

Nguyen explores the concept of negative space as a means to create openness. By leaving large areas of the canvas or installation devoid of detail, she emphasizes the emptiness and invites viewers to project their own interpretations onto these spaces. This approach not only enhances the sense of expansiveness but also encourages a personal and reflective engagement with the art.

Nguyen’s architectural installations further exemplify her innovative approach to space. By designing environments that blend seamlessly with their surroundings, she creates a sense of continuity between the art and the external world. Her use of transparent materials and reflective surfaces in works such as "Echoes of Infinity" blurs the boundaries between the interior space of the installation and the external environment. This interplay creates an experience where the spatial limits of the installation seem to dissolve, offering viewers a profound sense of freedom and connection to the broader landscape.

Adriel Nguyen’s art represents a compelling exploration of how landscape, light, and space can be manipulated to create a profound sense of openness. Through her expansive landscapes, innovative use of light, and redefined spatial boundaries, Nguyen invites viewers to experience a sense of freedom and boundlessness that extends beyond the confines of traditional artistic representation. Her work challenges conventional notions of space and perception, offering a fresh and immersive experience that engages both the senses and the imagination.

Nguyen’s ability to craft environments that feel both expansive and intimately personal highlights her skillful manipulation of these elements. In doing so, she creates art that not only reflects the vastness of the natural world but also fosters a deep, contemplative engagement with the experience of openness.

Memory is a powerful and often elusive force that influences how we perceive and represent landscapes. It shapes not only our recollections of physical spaces but also the emotional and psychological associations we attach to them. For Nguyen, the landscape is more than a mere backdrop; it is a vessel for exploring the fluid and often fragmented nature of memory.

Nguyen's art captures this interplay by focusing on how landscapes evoke memories and emotions. In her series "Fading Echoes," Nguyen employs a combination of abstract and representational elements to reflect the ephemeral quality of memory. Her paintings feature blurred edges, fragmented forms, and layered textures, creating a visual language that mirrors the way memories often fade and shift over time.