Under the Tree Trunk: Billy Bagilhole and Mark Sengbusch Two-Person Exhibition

K&L Museum is pleased to present a two-person exhibition featuring the dynamic works of Billy Bagilhole and Mark Sengbusch, currently based in London and New York. Titled Under the Tree Trunk, this exhibition heralds the onset of spring, unraveling a world of beauty and sensory exploration deeply rooted in the distant memories of childhood. On view from March 28 to June 23, the exhibition invites viewers to explore the infinite possibilities of color and form that reside profoundly within the layers of those lingering early memories.

In the exhibition, the museum aims to share the artistic passion of two emerging contemporary artists, through their diverse and lively paintings, drawings, and three-dimensional works. These artists, with their youthful sensibilities and perspectives, seek to offer a warm artistic experience and share their enthusiasm for art. The intertwined memories of childhood linger in the depths of our subconscious, whispering ceaselessly about our present and future. We aspire for viewers to embark on a journey of exploration, unearthing the infinitesimal seeds of the past that harbor boundless potential, nurturing unique narratives akin to the artistic odysseys undertaken by these two artists. We hope this voyage also lead spectators to uncover the precious memories delicately concealed beneath the tree trunk.

Within Billy Bagilhole's canvases, human figures, expressions, everyday objects and forms resembling animals unfold freely, evoking the unrestrained drawings that may be found within  graffiti on a wall. Fragments of memories left by his father during childhood play a crucial role in shaping the unique aura emanating from Bagilhole's works. Surrounded by the diverse images, colors and expressions in his father's murals during his early years, Bagilhole naturally embraced a world of free imagination. However, the sudden departure of his father left a deep sense of loss; The rich yet ambiguous images engraved in his memory through his father's works linger as beautiful remnants. Experiencing the deaths and farewells of cherished figures such as family members, past lovers, and pets from an early age, Bagilhole contemplates the concept of vanishing relationships and loss. The artist's reflection on loss, yearning, and memories becomes a driving force enabling a strong determination and introspection about life itsef. Through his ethereal drawings and paintings, Bagilhole continuously explores the positive expectations and possibilities for new moments and encounters in life, paying even closer attention to the beauty of everyday life. His works reveal a mix of melancholy from recalling his childhood memories and a hope for a better future.

Mark Sengbusch draws inspiration from his childhood wooden blocks, furniture from the 1980’s encountered through his parents' business, architectural structures, pop culture of the 1990s, and vintage video games from Atari and Nintendo. Using these influences, he creates innovative and organic works, employing unique forms and color combinations. The forms reminiscent of interconnected knots appear continuously and repetitively in his watercolor drawings and paintings, creating an organic and infinitely expansive pattern that seems to extend beyond its boundaries to reach in all directions. Vibrant primary colors evoking children's toys, along with toned-down hues inspired by traditional American folk costumes, converge to form a pure yet subdued aura. Having primarily focused on painting and drawing for around twenty years, Sengbusch began crafting sculptural works with architectural forms in 2017 after visiting Abu Dhabi and Kyoto. His wooden sculptures made from plywood are created without the use of nails or glue. Instead, he assembles them with a ring-and-joint structure, connecting each plywood piece organically to create a unified form. Intentionally avoiding artificial adhesion, Sengbusch's works demonstrate not only sculptural qualities but also an organic and cooperative "relational" process in his unique way of considering the interplay between different parts of a piece.

At times, the past can reveal itself upon reflection as fragmented pieces of memories, occasionally derived of choices and inspirations that define the present moment. Living in the contemporary era, we confront a wave of rapidly consumed images under the domination of information, accumulating vast amounts of data. Paradoxically, this accumulation leaves us with little room to revisit our memories. At a moment when a brief pause is imperative, the title Under the Tree Trunk encapsulates the hope for a time of relaxation akin to enjoying respite beneath the tree, reflecting on the purity of childhood, shedding the weight of life's complexities.