Chashasma is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new paintings by Danish-American artist Miranda Hellman. The work is derived from fear and constructed imaginary conflicts between water and land. Hellman explores the power of water over land as natural catastrophes acting as a metaphor for the cycle of life, in the contrasts between the experience of living on land, which is divided, by grid systems and the expansion of the sea. Hellman has spent the last year working from a studio on Pier 4 in Brooklyn, NY where she has derived much of the inspiration. Also on view are several paintings from the series Destroy and Develop a project that documents and investigates the demolitions of a residential section of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn NY. While buildings are being erected and demolished on a daily basis, the urban landscape undergoes dramatic transformations.

“My work is about concepts of time, memory and the relationships between past and present lives. I am interested in the marks that humans leave behind, be it old pieces of furniture trashed on the street, or a colossal building.”

The creation of this work was made possible by a space award from Chashama. Chashama supports emerging and underrepresented artists by providing one of the most elusive commodities in New York City: space to create. Chashama works with landlords and developers to identify underutilized real estate, which the owner is willing to donate on a short-term, temporary basis, preferring to see underutilized spaces put to good use, looked after and maintained while they are awaiting commercial tenants. www.chashama.org