Join us for the opening reception of EJ Hill: Wherever we will to root at OXY ARTS.
Los Angeles based artist EJ Hill is best known for his rigorous, embodied and durational performances and his exploration of the social construction of identity.
In this exhibition, the culmination of his term as the 2021 Wanlass Artist in Residence at OXY ARTS, Hill moves beyond his physical practice to create a series of paintings that embrace the painterly tradition of floral representation and investigate leisure, pleasure, and joy. Exploring the versatility of his practice freely and unapologetically, Hill accesses his passion for painting; reframing the painting process as the work—in this case the work of care, a therapeutic mechanism for healing, rehabilitation, and even resistance.
Wherever we will to root acts as the pendulum swing to Hill’s physically demanding performances. Here, the paintings seem to say—in the restful pink hues of roses and daffodils and daisies—is the place where blooming happens, where the body is not tested but nursed back to equanimity. The repetitive floral imagery and absorbing shades of pink create an intimate space, enveloping and inviting the viewer to join in the necessary act of resting, resetting, finding balance and beauty.
What is unambiguous in Hill’s disparate modalities is a practice that insists and relentlessly affirms his presence; asserting the urgency and vitality of his resolute will to thrive.
The exhibition season features a series of public programs which materialize through conversation, performance, food and fashion—making space for the return of a shared joy and intimacy.
