When reading a story, sometimes a seemingly unimportant fragment-- a line or phrase-- will grab our attention in such a way that it continues to resurface and resound for weeks or years after the plot and characters have faded. Perhaps it’s the rhythm of the words or a particular resonance with other elements in our thought life that causes a passage to leap forth from the page and assume a life of its own.

For Seoul-based, American artist, Adam Lofbomm, the entire city is a visual narrative full of such fragments just waiting to be excerpted, quoted and re-appropriated. Using various cameras as a sort of notebook, he sifts through the urban landscape, capturing ready-made elements for his mixed media compositions such as distressed surfaces, obscured typographical forms, and details of city infrastructure that are often ignored. Employing various digital and analog printmaking techniques in his process, he then combines these visual excerpts into painterly works that highlight the raw beauty of the city and challenge us to look out at our everyday world with heightened awareness.

This show marks the grand opening of Adam and Jessica Lofbomm’s Laughing Tree Gallery, the first fine art gallery in the Haebangchon neighborhood of Seoul. The Lofbomms are currently planning to curate more exhibitions by local and international artists and are now accepting applications from artists interested in showing their work at the gallery. Inquiries can be directed to Jessica@LaughingTree.com.

Opening receptions will be held on Saturday, September 11, from 5-9pm and on Sunday, September 12, from 3-7pm. The gallery will be open daily from 11am-7pm until September 18, and viewings are available by appointment from September 19- 25.