primitives: a group show about beginnings
7/1/20261 min read
primitives: a group salon about beginnings
brooklyn, ny — gallery 913 is pleased to present primitives, a group salon curated by hobart pao, featuring works by lisa ludwig, jenny matiga, hobart pao, and xue zheng. running from 1 jul to 15 sep 2026, primitives brings together four artists in conversation around a single, deceptively open question: what is primitive?what is basic? what is simple?
the works in this salon trace primitives across form, material, and image, from prehistoric primordial soup
to the modern icon. in the algebraic interpretation, this is a show about generators, starting from basic
building blocks and initial objects. pao’s curation emphasizes both the non linearity of time and the human
linear perception of time, guided by donald judd’s idea that beginnings are a search for the beginning.
the main wall provides a survey of the evolution of life as we know it, from primordial soup (zheng) and
plant life (matiga), to the present day, connected by a loading sign (pao) and a ladder (ludwig). ludwig’s
emergency exit” is an invitation to climb beyond whatever is keeping us stuck. matiga’s painting, an over-
grown mind”, interrogates the process of growing up and the idea of the “ready”, where we learn to present
a joyful exterior while masking pain and the demands of the world for us to grow up faster even when one
isn’t ready. other primitive concepts covered in the show include desire and its abstraction, choice, and the
flattening of the person into a product and a corporate team player.
the private opening reception will be held on wed, 1 jul at 18:30. visits by appointment through 15 aug 2026.
gallery 913 is located at 9108 3rd avenue, apt 3f, brooklyn, ny 11209. the gallery’s mission is simple: bring
art closer to humanity, both to the artists and the viewer-participants. artists keep 70% of sales. no fees, ever.
for more information, images, or to schedule an interview, contact:
hobart pao
director, duality industries
email: dualityindustries@gmail.com
instagram: @gallery 913, @dualityindustries
(917)-657-6121