DepthForms 

Alex Cornelius + Yu Nong Khew

on view: January 17 - February 15, 2015

In 2013, Khew and Cornelius were unexpectedly displaced from New York City. Suddenly finding themselves based in Singapore, the duo took this as an opportunity to explore, both as architects and artists, the cities of Ms. Khew's Southeast Asian upbringing... Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Yogyakarta.  In DepthForms they take these cities in addition to New York City as the subject matter for an exploration of the contrasting phenomena of depth and flatness in the city...... 

As architects Cornelius and Khew strive to look at cities in a new way.  
In DepthForms they take New York and Singapore as the subject matter for an exploration of the contrasting phenomena of depth and flatness in the city.  

Singapore is a new city - a flat, generic city composed of shopping malls as far as the eye can see. Closer inspection reveals a different condition altogether - a deep city composed of ample setbacks from the streets, 5 ft. wide sidewalks, brise soleils, sky gardens, and open air markets.  

New York is a middle-aged city - a deeply dynamic, lively 24-hour metropolis composed of gilded towers. Closer inspection reveals a different condition altogether – a razor thin city of endless sheets of reflective glass, tightrope narrow sidewalks, block parties in the streets, streets spilling onto stoops, stoops stretching into homes.  

DepthForms begins as a study of the geometric principles which structure our perception of the city. For example, the rigidity of the grid, the openness of towers in the park, and the subtle changes in the repetition of row or shop houses can be simplified into geometric principles. They are then digitally transformed, compositing depth into the reading of the original view. 

In the exhibition 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and 2.5-dimensional methods of representation are used interchangeably to question our conception of urban space.  Flat 2-dimensional drawings appear to leap off the wall, while 3-dimensional objects at first appear flat, but closer inspection reveals endless layers and readings. The exhibition is comprised of 8 prints (2d) works and 8 objects (3d).

DIRECTIONS:

Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

FiveMyles is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Greenwich Collection, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, and Humanities NY.