Tasting Notes Finissage

Description:

Western Front hosted a celebratory closing event of Tasting Notes, a solo exhibition of work by Sol Hashemi. This exhibition brought together a selection of photographs and objects used, modified, and reconfigured by the artist in his ongoing experimentation with brewing. Within this scene, the viewer becomes part of the image, playing an active role in how the artwork functions.

In addition to the presented work, Hashemi prepared a variety of brews—Dry Cider III, Selenite Amber Ale for Clearing Negative Energy, Raison Ale, and Serpentine Pale Ale—to be sampled and served to visitors.

This occasion also featured the presentation of a new work by Hashemi created during his time in residence at Western Front alongside an existing work from 2009. Presented within the Grand Luxe Hall, both works use the format of the slideshow to sequence a series of images. The first work, Photoluminescent Slideshow (2009), brings together photographic slides taken by Hashemi’s father Mohsen, while the second work, Phosphorescent Slideshow (2023), presents digital photographs that catalog Hashemi’s late grandmother Akhtar’s collection of textiles. Projected onto photosensitive glow-in-the-dark surfaces, each image casts an afterglow.

Gallery hours were extended for this event, welcoming visitors to stay for art, drinks, and conversation.