ANATOMY OF RESILIENCE

Karsh-Masson Gallery Invitation Anatomy of Resilience, 2018

Andrew Ooi, Trinity, 2015 | 7.5 x 14 x 1.25 inches, 19 x 35 x 3 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink
Overcoming hardship requires a kind of hardiness or resilience, Columbia University researcher, George Bonanno describes best. Publishing his findings from his extensive study of trauma in the article, “Loss, Trauma, and Human Resilience,” (American Psychologist 59, 2004) Bonanno defines hardiness as consisting of “three dimensions: being committed to finding meaningful purpose in life, the belief that one can influence one’s surroundings and the outcome of events, and the belief that one can learn and grow from both positive and negative life experiences.” By Bonanno’s definition, art can be utilized as a way of discovering one’s purpose in life; reinventing oneself; and developing a new way to express, and thus, understand, the significance of one’s life experiences.
Anatomy of Resilience–an exhibit consisting of paper-folded paintings and sculptures–examines art as a kind of hardiness in overcoming hardship.

Andrew Ooi, Brain 1, 2014 | 8 x 12 x 2 inches, 21 x 31 x 5 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Matrix 1, 2015 | 14 x 13 x .75 inches, 36 x 34 x 2 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Matrix 2, 2015 | 10 diameter x .75 inches, 25 diameter x 2 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Point 1, 2015 | 10 x diameter x .75 inches, 25 diameter x 2 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Point 2, 2015 | 10.5 diameter x .75 inches, 27 diameter x 2 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink
The process in creating the artworks for the Exhibit is carried out purposefully to signify the “fragmentation and reassemblage” certain entities such as Navajo, psychiatry, and information technology describe disorder–a kind of hardship. Initially, “out of order,” the artwork is “gone to pieces,” or “falling to pieces,” before being primed for construction. Afterward, “picking up the pieces” enables the art to become ordered, and “in one piece.” From start to finish, hardiness is borne from, and beyond the hardship; multi-dimensional, with the complete transformation made visible.

Andrew Ooi, Lotus, 2015 | 7.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches, 9 x 19 x 9 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Lotus, 2015 | 7.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches, 9 x 19 x 9 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Lotus, 2015 | 7.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches, 9 x 19 x 9 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Column, 2015 | 12 x 10 x .75 inches, 31 x 26 x 2 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Dermis, 2015 | 16 x 14.5 x 1.2 inches, 41 x 37 x 3 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Cavity, 2015 | 8 x 21.25 x .75 inches, 20 x 54 x 2 cm | Gampi, ink
The colours employed in the artworks correspond to their resilience-making, therapeutic properties. Red supports wellbeing; green, compassion; yellow, communication; black, regeneration; blue, leadership; and white, discovery of purpose. Titles of artworks recognize hardiness by experience, superstition, faith and introspection as a change that occurs within, also reflected in an environment.

Andrew Ooi, Witness, 2015 | 7.5 x 7 x 1.2 inches, 19 x 17 x 3 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Brain 2, 2015 | 16 x 16 x .5 inches, 40 x 40 x 1 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Brain 2, 2015 | 16 x 16 x .5 inches, 40 x 40 x 1 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Trace, 2015 | 35 x 22 x 1.2 inches, 88 x 56 x 3 cm | Gampi, ink, graphite

Andrew Ooi, Layers, 2015 | 14.5 x 14.5 x 1.2 inches, 37 x 37 x 3 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Vesica, 2015 | 24 x 17 x .5 inches, 60 x 43 x 1 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Nuclear, 2015 | 13 x 14 x .75 inches, 34 x 36 x 2 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Inner Circle, 2015 | 13 x 14 x .75 inches, 34 x 36 x 2 cm | Gampi, ink

Andrew Ooi, Oculus, 2015 | 11 x 12 x1.2 inches, 29 x 31 x 3 cm | Gampi, acrylic

Andrew Ooi, Scarab, 2016 | 6 x 6 x 3 inches, 15 x 15 x 7 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, Variation, 2016 | 11 x 11 x 1.2 inches, 29 x 29 x 3 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, The Apostles (front), 2017 | 27 x 14 x 3.5 inches, 69 x 35 x 9 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, The Apostles (back), 2017 | 27 x 14 x 3.5 inches, 69 x 35 x 9 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink

Andrew Ooi, The Apostles (detail), 2017 | 27 x 14 x 3.5 inches, 69 x 35 x 9 cm | Gampi, acrylic, ink
Andrew Ooi would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.