Drawing inspiration from her Vietnamese heritage and the landscapes of California, Jolie Ngo showcases her newest and largest body of work to date in Power Clash. The layered topography of rice paddies and the diamond shapes of Vietnamese silk lanterns inform faceted structures that simultaneously mimic the hills of Ngo’s current hometown, Santa Barbara. Her functional, and at times illuminated, objects reimagine these real-world influences through a digital lens, rendering and 3D-printing novel technicolor forms. Despite the changes in scale, her longstanding investigation of the vessel remains central to the work, evolving yet enduring as a core idea for new creations.
Also at the heart of Ngo’s practice is color and decoration, or as she calls it, dressing. Airbrushing, stickering, and hand-painting come together as a mix of collage and power-clashing techniques—a term borrowed from fashion that intentionally combines patterns and colors that would not commonly be paired. In the present show, Ngo further juxtaposes this approach through new materials and typologies, inaugurating new experiences and uses for her work: in addition to her characteristic extruded clay, plastic allows for new ranges in pattern and light diffusion that make their way to lamps; tables recall the bodies of small cherubs, while mirrors are inspired by the vibrant work of Stefan Knapp. Brick formations and Southeast Asian bronze bells are supplementary references that demonstrate Ngo’s use of power clashing as a creative way of thinking, merging concepts that would not traditionally be seen together.
The various objects presented emulate stacked pots and bulbous vases, literally and metaphorically referencing Ngo’s vessels as the building blocks of her practice. In all, she highlights once again the incredible role that technology can play in her work, using it to meditate on place and reality, and highlighting personal touchpoints that influence her forms and the creative processes behind them.
Wall color generously provided by Alkemis Paint.