ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University's Art Galleries are excited to present Separations, a new exhibition featuring artworks and installations by visiting artists Eli Show and Angela Zonunpari. The exhibition will run from Sept. 20 to Nov. 15, 2024, with an artist talk scheduled for this Friday, Sept. 20, at 12:00 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center's Red Room.
Separations explores themes of space, art, and life, drawing on the concept of "liminal spaces" as seen in traditional torii gates in Japan, which mark transitions between the mundane and the sacred. The title reflects the artists' exploration of the conventional split between art and life, as well as their shared experience of how their home has evolved into a collaborative space where art and everyday life intersect.
The exhibition also touches on their personal and professional lives. Show’s sculptural and installation work focuses on arrangement and relational aesthetics, while Zonunpari’s practice in texts and textiles emphasizes artful objects and storytelling. Together, they create works that are influenced by how they’ve arranged their home, exploring how their artistic practices overlap and connect.
About the Artists:
Eli Show (he/him), based in Sioux Falls, S.D., is a multidisciplinary artist and preparator at the Old Courthouse Museum. A graduate of the University of South Dakota, Show received his master's in fine arts from Syracuse University in New York. His experience includes serving as Art Director for Headlights Theater, a nonprofit organization that brings professional dance and music performances to unconventional spaces like parking lots. Show is also a long-time member of the band Hooks (formerly We All Have Hooks for Hands), which has toured extensively and released records worldwide.
More information: elishow.studio / weallhavehooksforhands.com / elishow.com
Angela Zonunpari (she/her), also based in Sioux Falls, is a South Asian immigrant artist and editor with a practice that bridges texts and textiles to foster interactions between people and ideas. Zonunpari earned her master’s degree in arts journalism from Syracuse University. She has held roles in India and the United States, including working with Fresh Produce and Ipso Gallery in Sioux Falls. Currently, she serves as managing editor for Arts Midwest's Creativity News Desk, drawing on her interdisciplinary background to create and connect through art.
More information: angelazonunpari.com / nobusinessmagazine.com
The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information on Separations, visit the NSU Art Galleries website or contact the Gallery Director, Tim Rickett, at tim.rickett@northern.edu.