"Wading Through Oblivion" marks the debut solo exhibition of emerging artist Omar Wiseman, a 2019 graduate of the Cooper Union School of Art. This body of work reflects the overwhelming, often chaotic state of contemporary life—where the familiar collides with the unknown, and experiences collapse and overlap. It’s a meditation on the uncertainty that defines our times, expressed through the vivid symbology of Wiseman’s personal and visual language.
The title itself, "Wading Through Oblivion," alludes to the sensation of drifting or dreaming through emotional landscapes—spaces where one feels both estranged and adrift, unsure of what’s happening around them. Oblivion, as Wiseman explores, is the state of being unaware or unconscious of the forces shaping our lives. His paintings evoke this sense of being caught between worlds—of navigating transitional periods, searching for stability in an unstable reality, and finding one’s footing amidst chaos.
Through surreal abstraction and caricature, Wiseman’s work delves into the tensions between identity and isolation, anxiety and hope. The emotional landscapes he portrays feel both familiar and disorienting—visual representations of the inner turmoil and external pressures we face daily. Symbols of estrangement and ambiguity shift throughout the canvas, expressing the fluid, ever-changing nature of existence.
This in-betweenness—between places, states of being, and personal worlds—forms the crux of the show. Omar grapples with the question: How does one find a place to fit in when everything around them is unstable? His response is twofold: acknowledge the anxiety, but also embrace hope. In the face of adversity, Wiseman uses joy and whimsy as tools of defiance, reminding us that, while the flow of life may be treacherous, it is not without glimmers of light.
Despite the grim undertones, "Wading Through Oblivion" remains hopeful. It calls for perseverance—an insistence on moving forward even when the ground beneath us is shifting. The works embody this balance, offering a message of resilience: in the midst of chaos, we wade through, we drift, we dream—and we emerge, perhaps not unscathed, but hopeful.
SOLO EXHIBITION: NOV 21-25
Opening Reception Thrusday Nov 21st, 6:00-9:00 PM
Closing Reception Monday Nov 25th, 6:00-9:00 PM
Gallery Hours:
Friday Nov 22nd, 1:00-7:00 PM.
Saturday Nov 23, 1:00 -7:00 PM
Sunday Nov 24, 1:00-7:00 PM
Location: MY GALLERY NYC
587 FRANKLIN AVE
BROOKLYN NY ( 347)446-5857 www.mygallerynyc.com