Arthur Ou's 2007 Exhibition Explores Modernist Legacy Through Photography and Sculpture

Arthur Ou's exhibition, "To Preserve, To Elevate, To Cancel," was showcased at Hudson Franklin gallery in New York City from May 10 to June 16, 2007. The artist, originally from Taiwan and a Yale MFA graduate in photography (2000), delved into the legacy of modernist art through multimedia. A notable feature was a full-scale replica of a fireplace by Marcel Breuer, accompanied by four white cast porcelain pieces from Ou's "Double China" series. The largest photographs, measuring 42" x 51", were taken at Mirror Lake in Yellowstone National Park, merging Eastern drawing styles with modernist photography. Additionally, smaller works titled "Earthworks" drew inspiration from Minimalist sculptures and ancient Far Eastern traditions, while a cut paper wall relief highlighted the exhibition's title and examined the interplay of east-west themes and technology in everyday life.