Symmetry, geometry illustrate exhibit

Cheeseburgers piled in a saucepan and a grocery cart facing a stack of military tanks were just a few of the unconventional images that lined the walls of Boxcar Books and Community Center on Friday night. 

David Hassell, a local artist, premiered his exhibit of photography, sketches and paintings, titled “Cogni-Cartography,” to a group of Bloomington residents. Several attendees were avid followers of Hassell’s work.

“I met David a couple years ago and saw his casual photography, as well as composed prints. I’ve never seen so much of his work in one place, though,” IU alumna Emma Young said.

Graduate student Graham McKeen said he particularly liked a piece titled “Oneye,” which displayed a single eye on a blank background.

“I swear I know that eye, and I probably do because I know David,” McKeen said.
Hassell describes his style as symmetrical and uses geometric shapes. He also uses a lot of still-lifes, first creating a concept and then seeking objects to satisfy it. 

His work, which he said is influenced by Damien Hirst, Gabriel Orozco and Rene Magritte, explores the correlation between getting new perspectives and how they affect reality. Hassell’s favorite piece in the collection is “Infinite Space + Zero Volume,” a 3-D work featuring a gold chest among rows of white golf tees.

“It goes along with the theme of the show. It’s about how a finite diagram embodies an infinite amount of space,” Hassell said.

Other displayed works included an image of a man whose face is brightly illuminated with a cluster of green toy soldiers in front of his chest.

Another seemingly political work called “Domesticult” depicted an American flag-like image of a woman in a black string bikini and high heels lying on a red- and white-checkered table with her face hidden by a navy blue box covered in white stars.

Young said she enjoyed “Reverberatis,” which displayed an antique copper mirror that showed the back of a man’s head and his right hand playing a piano in its reflection.

“I love the sharpness of the mirror image, and it’s nicely composed,” said Young, who has a piece similar to “Domesticult” at home.

The event was catered by The Runcible Spoon, Boxcar’s neighbor, and featured music by DJ Lone Logician. Hassell’s artwork will be on display through Nov. 4.