Artist Reception with Mayumi Lake

Event Date: Thursday, February 6 · 6 - 7:30pm CST

Please join us for a reception with Mayumi Lake to celebrate the opening of her solo exhibition Unison.

As a part of the Elevate series at 21c Chicago, the work will be on view from February through April in Gallery 3.

Unison is Mayumi Lake’s ongoing series of immersive mixed-media installations, sculptures, and photographic collages. The central motif of this series is Housouge, an ancient Japanese imaginary flower believed to bloom in paradise, symbolizing the delicate border between life and death. These intricate floral patterns have been passed down through Asian history and are prominently featured in sacred spaces, embodying hope within the cyclical nature of life.

During periods of social unrest - such as natural disasters, epidemics, and political upheaval - Housouge patterns historically became more large, vivid and saturated, reflecting resilience and a collective yearning for harmony. In today’s world, where the present often feels intertwined with echoes of the past, Lake’s Housouge-inspired” Unison” seeks to illuminate moments of optimism and hope amidst the turbulence of contemporary society.

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