Echoes of Paradise
curated by alejandro jassan

June 28th - August 16th, 2024

Manuela Benaim, Jean-Baptiste Bernadet, Kadar Brock, Deborah Brown, Henri Paul Broyard, Geoffrey Chadsey, Kyle Coniglio, Cynthia Daignault, TM Davy, T.J. Dedeaux-Norris, Benjamin Edmiston, Hank Ehrenfried, Evan Halter, Matthew Hansel, Andrew Holmquist, Kris Knight, Karolina Maszkiewicz, Kristin McIver, Alicia Reyes McNamara, Azita Moradkhani, John T.D. Murphy, Dominic Musa, Chase Palmer, Jan Rattia, Kathy Sirico, Eva Struble, Xiao Wang

Jane Lombard Gallery presents Echoes of Paradise, a group exhibition curated by Alejandro Jassan. Echoes of Paradise explores the multifaceted significance of the Garden of Eden through the lenses of nature, art history, cultural assimilation, gender identity, and forbidden pleasures. 

Echoes of Paradise deconstructs the myth of the Garden of Eden, highlighting how its themes have permeated art and culture across generations and geographies. Throughout art history, the symbols and language of the paradise have been endlessly replicated and reinterpreted. Edenic symbols serve as a bridge between the past and present, revealing the dynamic interplay between historical and modern perspectives. Echoes of Paradise brings this dialogue to the forefront, showcasing how the Genesis narrative has been adapted to reflect varying cultural, social, and artistic milieus. Furthermore, the exhibition sheds light on cultural assimilation and power dynamics, all the while examining how the myth has been integrated and transformed within different societies.

Providing a rich tapestry of visual narratives that reflect humanity's enduring fascination with this primordial story, the exhibition is foregrounded in familiar Edenic emblems-- from representations of the archetypal figures of Adam and Eve to lush landscapes enveloped in flora and fauna. The exhibition also explores the concept of repetition, both symbolically and formally, as a means of illustrating how this myth has echoed through time, morphing across cultures and contexts, evolving yet retaining its core. Through recurring motifs and repetitive brushstrokes, the artists collectively signal the continuous adaptation of this narrative and its impact on collective memory and cultural identity.

Looking to the human body, queer narratives, and feminist viewpoints, Echoes of Paradise challenges traditional gender norms. Disrupting the patriarchal gaze, these works reimagine Eden from perspectives of intimacy, ones that particularly seek to upend stereotypical depictions of gender. Addressing gaps in traditional narratives, the works play with aspects of masculinity, fragility, and tenderness, creating space for alternative perspectives on the human experience as well as critically investigating what inclusivity means from a 21st century vantage point. 

Echoes of Paradise invites viewers to reconsider their consumption of imagery, symbols, and narratives. The exhibition not only enriches our understanding of art history but also challenges conventional gender roles, encouraging inclusivity as the approach to storytelling. Together, the artists in this exhibition create a vivid portrayal of paradise as a multifaceted, interconnected, and emotionally resonant place, one that has expanded to include voices and experiences historically excluded from the dialogue.

About the Curator

Alejandro Jassan is a Mexican curator, critic, and publicist. He is the founder of Alejandro Jassan Studio, a creative agency specialized in public relations, communications strategy and media relations for the global arts community. As a curator, Jassan has staged numerous international group exhibitions, including Echoes of Paradise at Jane Lombard Gallery;  Under My Skin and La Luz Proviene de Ahi (with Fátima González) at Campeche, Mexico City; Haptic (with John Kunemund and Carly Fischer) at Alexander Gray Associates; A Vase is A Vase is A Vase (with Deanna Evans) at Deanna Evans Projects; and Material Transaction at Spring/Break Art Show, as well as solo exhibitions with artists Xiao Wang, Evan Halter, Nick Naber, Michael Adno, and Jorge Tellaeche. As a critic, Jassan has written numerous articles, thought pieces, profiles, and artist interviews, for international publications including ELLE Mexico, ELLE Man, Revista Quien, Dapper Tapper, The Wild, and The Coastal Post. As a publicist, Jassan has worked with some of the industry’s leading contemporary art galleries, including Alexander Gray Associates, Stephen Friedman Gallery, and Gavlak Gallery, among others, as well as the award-winning architecture firm, David Kohn Architects, London. Throughout the years, Jassan has also edited, designed, and produced numerous exhibition catalogs and monographs for international artists, including Joan Semmel, Harmony Hammond, Melvin Edwards, Regina Silveira, Teresa Burga, Loriel Beltrán, and Arcmanoro Niles, among many others. Jassan is also a passionate and avid collector of contemporary art.