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The Bots’ Ambedo Solo Exhibition

here are holes in the English language, including a multitude of universal emotions which don’t have simple, single-word names. Or, at least, that’s the thesis behind John Koenig ‘s The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows , an online compendium that defines newly-invented words for potent feelings. Koenig’s term ambedo , for instance, indicates “a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details”, such as “raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee”, and — perhaps — the palpable texturing that The Bots coat their one-of-a-kind sculptures in. And if Jenn & Tony Bot’s work truly is an “ambedo”, then that makes the husband-and-wife duo’s newest solo exhibition all the more appropriate, as it was indeed titled Ambedo…

From afar, one visually consumes The Bots’ works as whole pieces, their whimsical playfulness providing a glimpse into some ill-defined, fantastical world. Populated by monstrous creatures whose demeanor ranges from blissfully happy to adorably grumpy, once one’s gaze focuses on the minutiae of these colorful clay covered works then the rich details unfold and truth becomes apparent: they all speak intimately about the human condition. No, they aren’t us; rather they are stripped-down embodiments of raw human emotion. From the wide-eyed fear of facing a fright to the blank expression after a hapless encounter, there is a telling knowledge in each cartoonishly stylized mouth shape and eye position. Whether depicting a meteor-speckled astronaut, a carnie with a pennant flag headdress, or a lemonade seller with antler-like lemon tree branches, these hand-modified works on Kidrobot‘s Dunny form are united by the truth behind their expressions, this unspoken connection building The Bots’ fictional world piece by piece.



The Bots’ Ambedo solo exhibition at the Clutter Magazine Gallery had its opening reception on Saturday, April 13th from 6-9pm, with all works in this exhibition remaining on display until May 5th, 2019 at the gallery’s physical location ( 163 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 ).

View the gallery’s dedicated page for the Ambedo exhibition

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