article X: david trautrimas and kristina lewis johansson projects, oakland, california from january 30th to march 20th, 2010

‘article X’ is an exhibition of photographer david trautrimas and sculptor kristina lewis. both of their works take functional objects, removed from their usual contexts, placing them in zones of ambiguity, absurdity and anxiety.

‘storm crown mechanism’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 by david trautrimas digital print on archival paper 30" x 40" edition of 10

canadian photographer david trautrimas dismantles and sculpts rusted household refugees – coffee pots, refrigerators, electric razors, oil cans, waffle irons etc. – which are then digitally re-imagined as top-secret outposts. the series ‘the spyfrost project’ situates the skunkwork structures in cold war landscapes, intertwining the relationship between militarism and consumerism. his experiments hypothesize the fictional origins of common household goods and appliances, that defined the zeitgeist of the era.

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition ‘micro re-instigator’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 digital print on archival paper 30" x 40" edition of 10

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition ‘carbon inversion device’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 by david trautrimasdigital print on archival paper 20" x 30" edition of 14

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition ‘the aurora maker’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 by david trautrimasdigital print on archival paper 14" x 17" edition of 16

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition ‘the radiant proliferator’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 by david trautrimasdigital print on archival paper 20" x 30" edition of 14

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition ‘seismic conduction tower’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 by david trautrimasdigital print on archival paper 20" x 30" edition of 14

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition ‘the brilliant device’ from the spyfrost project, 2009 by david trautrimasdigital print on archival paper 20" x 30" edition of 14

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibitionkristina lewis, 2010 drywall, building electrical wire, outlet, wall plate all images of kristina lewis courtesy of johannson projects

american sculptor kristina lewis liberates utilitarian objects from their responsibility to human agendas and gives the materials drawn from our discarded possessions, a place to evolve. she re-assembles worn women’s footwear, zippers, light switches, reformatting commercial goods into unspecified creatures. are they insects, flying rodents, birds or aliens? emancipated from their former life is aesthetic extensions of the female leg, they flaunt their insides.

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition kristina lewis, 2010 drywall, building electrical wire, found toggle, switches, hardware, adhesive

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition kristina lewis, 2010 used high-heeled footwear, epoxy putty, acrylic, adhesive 10" x 5" x 11"

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition kristina lewis, 2010 used high-heeled footwear, epoxy putty, acrylic, adhesive 15" x 12" x 5" david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition kristina lewis, 2010 used high-heeled footwear, epoxy putty, acrylic, adhesive 9" x 11" x 8"

david trautrimas and kristina lewis: article X exhibition kristina lewis, 2010 used high-heeled footwear, epoxy putty, acrylic, adhesive 11" x 7" x 4"