Eric Hibit // Color Above the Muntin
On View: April 18 – June 13, 2024
Reception for the artist: May 2, 6:30-8pm
Known for his meticulous paintings made with countless dots of acrylic paint, New York-based artist Eric Hibit explores a bold new direction with a cut paper installation made specifically for Main Window Dumbo. To produce Color Above the Muntin, Hibit draws upon another of his established practices: ink painting from nature. Over washes of color on Arches paper, Hibit uses black ink to render forms that suggest hydrangeas, zinnias, nasturtiums, and leaves. These forms are then cut, collaged, and pinned in situ.
The title Color Above the Muntin refers to the metal bar that divides Main Window in half. Hibit observed the muntin both as (1.) an obstruction, and (2.) an organizing principle of the work. In essence, a binary to respond to – and to resolve aesthetically by moving the viewer's eye fluidly between the two sections. Additional concerns for the artist include visibility and public impact. In the artist’s words:
“Black lines stand out from a distance and resonate in the public context. To me, it’s important that the evidence of the hand is clearly visible in the movement of the lines and their idiosyncrasies. Paper tends to buckle with the addition of wet materials – a welcome complement to my hand-painted lines.
The aspects of irregularity, human-touch, and tactility are my response to the immediate context of Main Window Dumbo and the neighborhood of Dumbo itself. Unlike many areas of NYC where street art, graffiti, and provisional signage proliferate, these forms are largely absent in Dumbo. My intention is to put something hand-made in this public space to add tenderness and idiosyncrasy to the environment. I also want to create a sense of buoyancy and lightness – a remedy for our age.”