Diana Puntar's Plywood and Phosphorescent Sculptures at Oliver Kamm/5BE Gallery

Diana Puntar presented an exhibition titled 'Lived Live Evil Devil' at Oliver Kamm/5BE Gallery in New York City from January 11 to March 1, 2008. The show featured vertical sculptures constructed through an additive process using half-inch plywood slats. These slats were cut with a jigsaw or router, stacked, then shaped through grinding, filing, and sanding before receiving a low-luster polyurethane coating. The resulting forms evoked organic references like tree stumps, coral, and thorns, alongside non-organic associations such as ventilation tubes. A key material contrast involved pale green phosphorescent paint applied to foam elements, which glowed in darkness, suggesting bioluminescence rather than electrical light. Mirrored surfaces incorporated into most pieces reflected viewers, creating an ambiguous sense of observation. The sculptures' horizontal layer lines contradicted vertical natural patterns like tree bark. Fabrication methods undermined biomorphic qualities, generating a sense of otherness. Robert Scholes's concept of science fiction as 'discontinuous from the world we know' was referenced regarding the works' relationship to reality. Entering the gallery required stepping onto a raised platform, enhancing a feeling of intrusion into an intimate space. The sculptures functioned as variations within a genus, connected by materials and coloration while maintaining individual differences.