Dakota Gallery

Jesse Max Otero
Proto-language
Dakota Gallery, Bellingham WA

I work in a purely abstract aesthetic. I often employ a subtle color value and a reductive, “barely there” visual texture. Blurred lines, faded marks and out-of-focus images act as an illegible penmanship, casting a slight confusion over the experience of looking. The human need for understanding leads to an effort at translation. The encounter becomes an occasion of interpretation, requiring creativity and a willingness to be puzzled. I want the viewer to approach the work with an unbalance that forces openness of mind. I seek to spark your curiosity and gain your attention, like a brief whisper that requires intense focus to receive its meaning.