Stephen Morrison - "Dog Show #4: House Broken"

Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present Dog Show #4: House Broken, a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Stephen Morrison. In his latest solo exhibition, the artist reflects on the chaotic messiness of home life through painting and sculpture, finding inspiration in the lively and jumbled environment he grew up in. Reminiscing on his childhood home, memories of dancing, yelling, slapdash crafting and a constant swirl of half-finished products all come to mind. Amid all the noise, Morrison found an odd sense of harmony - moments where the chaos seemed to hum along just right, as if disorder itself had a rhythm. 

Divided into two parts, the main gallery features seven trompe l’oeil paintings that transform chaotic domestic scenes into objects of reverence. Everyday items such as shopping bags, magazine clippings, broken dolls and items often destined for the trash are reimagined through the artist’s well-known dog character. On closer inspection, the dogs reveal themselves to be stressed, broken, precariously balanced and in various states of emotion. Interspersed with the paintings are a series of sculptures the artist refers to as “clump spirits” - assemblages of objects in a state of disorder. These sculptures are playful yet simultaneously unsettling; stacked, cracked and appearing on the verge of collapse. 

The second gallery is taken over by an installation which takes on a more personal tone and reflects Morrison’s haphazard approach to home and habits. The imagined domestic interior features miniature self-portraits personified as construction workers, attempting to build but failing in various ways. They are lazy, distracted, intoxicated or, at times, driven by baser instincts. This self-deprecating critique aims to transform feelings of guilt and shame into something humorous, relatable and approachable. 

Together, these two spaces create an atmosphere of zany failure; a celebration of imperfection and production without resolution. Inspired by the playful trickery of dollhouses and miniatures, the artist attempts to transform chaos and clutter into something meaningful, finding beauty and value in the flaws and disorder of everyday life.

Join us for the opening of Dog Show #4: House Broken on January 15th with a reception from 6-8 pm. The artist will be present. The exhibition will run through February 8th. For additional information, images, or press requests, email NYC@HashimotoContemporary.com.

This exhibition was made possible with the support of The Invisible Dog Art Center.