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Karin Weber Gallery is pleased to present ‘Fay Ku: Arcadia,’ open 16 March through 21 April, 2016. Ku’s figurative artworks suggest the fluidity of identity and challenge the sexual, cultural, personal and political identifiers that have come to define and categorize individuals in greater society.

In early 20th century Europe, the notion of ‘Arcadia’ was inspired by a region of ancient Greece, whose relatively isolated inhabitants lived a simple and pastoral life. In the modern era, this ideal was celebrated in art, music and literature as a countermeasure to the stresses associated with the rapid industrialization and urbanization.

Ku’s Arcadia is a contemporary interpretation and offers a fresh utopian vision in which individuals are free to inhabit a multitude of identities and imaginative environments.

“These works are psychological studies in the ambiguous. The narrative is in flux and the figures are untethered from reality. This allows for multiple readings by the viewer, especially for those who have an appreciation for nuance,” says Ku.

Recognized for her fantastical artworks in graphite, acrylic, oil and gouache on layered drafting film, Ku works quickly, channeling a menagerie of influences inspired by travel, radio, film, literature and casual observation.

Suggests Ku: “The women in my works are otherworldly and the space they inhabit is equally mysterious. I want to challenge the notion of a singular identity, so these are exercises in letting go of our preconceptions. They are meant to challenge what society views as concrete.”

For Ku, the space her figures occupy is a supporting element that encourages exploration. Stepping into her world is an invitation to inhabit a persona and environment that carries the viewer beyond the certainty of prescribed reality.