The Contemporary Art Modern Project is pleased to present Dear Comrade, an exhibitory love letter to those we find connection with along our life journeys, one that is even more relevant in our socially distanced world, featuring the works of Italian artist Elena Monzo. Isolation has been a major theme as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic; it is no longer just a feeling, but something we must actively engage with as a way of protecting ourselves, our neighbors, and those we love. While being the root of much collective distress, being forced apart from each other has given us an intimate experience with disconnection, and though unwanted, it has consequently brought to light the value of relationship and camaraderie. Though we are individuals, our greatest strengths and joys lie in our intersections, in the moments where we lose sight of ourselves and dissolve into a larger whole. This gift of unity helps us transcend, even if just for the moment, the brutality of reality; we need each other. This fact has never been more felt than now, marking Monzo’s work paramount in relevance.
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Monzo effectively illustrates the transcendental force of connection not just through her subject matter, but its form. Pieces like Texas and Just Married feature mimicked poses unique to each pair of individuals, offering a visual for the synergy felt when one is dissolved into a larger whole. In both works, at least one figure is looking at the viewer, communicating their choice to be there, to be synchronized with their counterpart, and their desire for us to bear witness to it. It’s as if we are being offered a glance at something holy, and shown the way to reach it.
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Whether highlighting a platonic or romantic connection, Monzo grounds us in the truth that the way through all that life throws our way is together. When we connect with those around us, we are offered strength through resonance. A chance to recognize ourselves in another and lose our fears of isolation in that reflection
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