As collaborators, AlexandMushi span different generations, languages, cultures, and genders. Alex and Mushi met by chance on the streets of San Francisco when, after being evicted from her art studio, Alex sat a a table outside an Indian Restaurant practicing her Japanese. From Korean descent, Mushi struck up a conversation after seeing one sentence in Alex’s journal. The importance of communication and language began the collaboration itself, and with the development of their artistic practice, the two have honed in on the invaluable notion of transparency– a theme heavily present in their exhibition, ALEXANDMUSHI: Push Me Pull You at Modernism Gallery in San Francisco.
This collaboration between artists Alex Nichols and Mushi Wooseong James set out three years ago as a practice of communication. Yet what it discovered is what it takes to forge connection—the dynamic tension at the core of all communication is held in the desire to be seen, and the terror of revealing our most secret selves.
The work of Alex and Mushi at Modernism is not only an exceptional art experience but with our current social and political landscape, the message of meaningful connection is more important than ever. ALEXANDMUSHI’s exhibition presents their examination of communication and the common fear of revealing our true, and most secret, selves. This exhibition presents the ongoing work in their collaboration: Portable Studio, Chair Conversations, Still Conversations, Two Chairs, and The Dictionary. Their work engages the public in interactive experiences to connect cross-culturally and begs the question, what have we not asked in defining our lives? From an anthropological standpoint, Alex and Mushi bridge a gap of humanity with photography, video and immersive installations.
The collaborative duo founded Think Make Tank in 2016 and have had multiple exhibitions, experiential sound events, and dinners. Think Make Tank is dedicated to building a community where ideas, experimentation, and improvisation can happen.
ALEXANDMUSHI: Push Me Pull You was recently presented at Modernism Gallery in San Francisco
https://www.modernisminc.com/exhibitions/
