August 13, 2009. Los Angeles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Los Angeles Art Association / Gallery 825
825 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
http://www.laaa.org
(310) 652-8272
contact: Peter Mays

For Immediate Release & Consideration

“Compromised Interpretation”

Reception for the artists: September 11, Friday, 6pm – 9 pm

Live Performance : September 11, Friday, 8 pm

Show continues through October 9 .

YaYa Chou

“Compromised Interpretation” is a site specific installation and a collaborative project conceived by artist YaYa Chou.

Chou created a room-size sculpture installation and invited choreographers, Cynthia Lee and Shyamala Moorty from the Post Natyam Collective to choreograph a dance performance in response to the concept behind the work. The dance will be performed on the opening night, accompanied by music by composer Loren Nerell . Video documentation of the performance will be projected during the exhibition period.

“Compromised Interpretation” is a term derived from the concept of i nterpretation and reality in psychotherapy . Chou explores the process of how individuals define their environment and themselves. She is interested in examining whether our understand ing of reality is a form of “compromised interpretation,” based on past experience and belief, or if it is pure observation of our existence.

Chou continues her innovative use of materials, creating sculptures out of her mother's discarded calligraphy studies. They form spheres in various sizes and were constructed into a seemingly confined space where viewers can stay in and/or find their ways out. Chou stated: “Writing calligraphy has long been my mother's escape from the disappointment of her marriage. I utilize these byproducts of her emotional activities and build an environment, not just for her, but for all of us who wish to experience life from a fresh perspective.” Chou then invited the choreographers to interact with the installation and audience, who are encouraged to engage in the multi- disciplinary work, interpret the piece and further create their own realization.

Artist YaYa Chou

Born and raised in Taiwan, YaYa Chou moved to Los Angeles in 1997 to study Experimental Animation. Being inspired by scene and set design for clay animation, the awards-winning filmmaker expanded her interests to sculpture and installation.
Chou is known for her innovative use of everyday materials. Her work range from sculptures made of gummi bears, licorice lace and found objects to conventional medium of paper, clay, glass and bronze.
Chou has being showing in gallery and museum exhibitions around the United States, as well as numerous international film festivals, most notably in Museum of Modern Art, New York and Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia. She received four film awards on her animated films and Artists' Resource for Completion Grant from Durfee Foundation, Santa Monica, in 2007. Her works were reviewed in art magazines and newspapers around the world, including Chicago Tribune, Fiberarts magazine , Artillery magazine and ArtScene(CA). Chou holds a BA in Mass Communications from FuJen University in Taiwan and a MFA from California Institute of the Arts.

Choreographer Cynthia Lee

Bridging the worlds of contemporary avant-garde performance and classical kathak, Cynthia Lee's choreography focuses on rigorous intercultural collaboration and on developing kathak as a contemporary form. The recipient of a 2002- 200 3 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, Cynthia was also invited to participate in the 2006 Asia Pacific Performing Arts Exchange, the 2007 Asian Young Choreographers Project in Taiwan, and the 2008 Indonesian Dance Festival. Her choreography has been shown in India, Indonesia, Taiwan, and throughout the United States at venues such as REDCAT, the Irvine Barclay Theater, and the Painted Bride Arts Center. She has performed internationally at venues ranging from UCLA Royce Hall, the Skirball Cultural Center, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taman Ismail Marzuki, and on Doodarshan, the Indian governmental television channel. Cynthia holds an MFA in choreography from UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures.

Choreographer Shyamala Moorty

Shyamala Moorty is a founding member of the Post Natyam Collective , a multinational community of dance artists critically and creatively engaging with South Asian dance forms and aesthetic concepts. Shyamala received an MFA in dance from UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures. Her solo show, RISE, was acclaimed as a "tour de force" by the LA Times (1/17/04) and toured to Toronto, University of Wisconsin-Madison, the La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley. Moorty designed and coordinated Artwallah's summer arts development program, YouthWallah, and served as the first Executive Director of WYSE (Women and Youth Supporting Each other). She has taught at UCLA and Cal Poly Pomona, and is currently teaching in community colleges. Moorty was recently awarded the first place Professional Artist Fellowship by the Long Beach Arts Council and the City of Long Beach.

Musician Loren Nerell

Loren Nerell has written music for film, theater, dance, and interactive multi-media. He has performed with the Kronos Quartet, recorded seven albums of original work, also appeared on several compilations such as Dali: The Endless Enigma, Soundscape Galery 3, and Weightless, Effortless and has made guest appearances on recordings such as Steve Roach's Artifacts, Paul Haslinger's World Without Rules, Djam Karet's Collaborator, and L. Subramaniam's Global Fusion. Nerell received a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology and Geography from Cal Poly Pomona and a Master of Arts degree in Ethnomusicology from UCLA. His thesis is on the ceremonial gamelan music of Bali called lelambatan.

Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities, resources, services and exhibition venues for emerging Los Angeles artists of all media. LAAA began as a civic art institution in the 1920's , connecting elite art interests to Hollywood collectors, emerging after World War II as the center of Los Angeles modernism and finally becoming the city's nexus for emerging artists of all media. LAAA serves as a dynamic force for contemporary ideas, outreach, and community. Los Angeles Art Association and Gallery 825 are located in the heart of La Cienega's Restaurant Row at:  825 North La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069 .Gallery Hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday – Saturday or by appointment.  Please call 310-652-8272 or visit www.laaa.org

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