JENA ARGENTA
click image to view gallery
ABOUT/
Words are sediments, not just sentiments. They shape world-view, spatial composition & socio-sculptural elements of communication, belonging, & inclusion.
My work explores an expanded sense of communication through themes of legacy, illegibility, rupture, loss, translation, & intimacy. My palette is subtle & organic, metallic, iridescent, & informed by community voices. Works resist viewing from a single physical vantage-point, sense of self, or linguistic sensibility. They are informed by almost a decade of study & practice in global calligraphies.
Your writing is all around me/ it doesn’t leave my bed
there is healing in it /for what I have been concealing
—al Qushayrī Trans Kristin Zahra Sands
SCULPTURE
& INSTALLATIONS/
"To My Lovers", side detail.
"To My Lovers", unlit. Title from Judy Grahn's long poem, "A Woman Is Talking To Death." View of flat work.
Sumi ink & gesso on Stonehenge. LED pendant 22.5" H. English text rendered with Chinese brush.
Gesso & sumi ink on Stonehenge paper. Arabic text "Hu" , loosely "essence". 22.5" x 30". View of flat work, no illumination.
"Hu" illuminated. LED pendant. 22.5" H.
"Hu", backlit & full.
Sheep parchment. Figure only visible backlit. 4" x 6". Arabic reads "bismillah al rahman al rahim"--in the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate"
Illuminated Manuscripts-- various scripts & corresponding papers. Pendant LED.
detail
Sail light prototype--(reed spline, mulberry paper, LED pendant light, view from below)
Materials detail: sculpted spline & found stick
Top view detail/bulb fixture of Sail light prototype.
Seed-light prototype--frame (reed spline, twine & glue).
Seed light-- (mulberry treated shell; standard LED pendant)
Seed light detail
Carved oil pasted & charcoal on Stonehenge. 22.5"H. Arabic text.
View when unlit/flat.
Detail of "counterpoisons" --a site specific, 19' cut paper & light installation commissioned by Orange County Arts Council for the Art Affair Gala.
"counterpoisons" installation included a 9' community snake skin. Made of coils of glued paper glued in patches & later assembled at full length.
Detail of "counterpoison" installation elements. Along with communal skin, there were ouroboros snakes (22" across each-- made of cut paper, iridescent acrylic & sumi ink).
detail of patches ready to be compiled
detail
detail of skins & other elements
detail