Subtle Details Delight the Careful Eye A Review of Clay Mahn at Paris London Hong Kong

Clay Mahn, “Autoportrait(B),” 2016. Acrylic, powdered marble on muslin over panel, 20 x 15.75 inches

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Clay Mahn’s understated exhibition, “Autoportrait,” includes three abstract paintings that share the show’s title. “Autoportrait B” is a medium-sized canvas with a white background. A straight black line about a half-inch thick traces the inside of the canvas’ edge. The line then continues more than halfway up the center of the picture, wobbling ever so slightly as it does. The other two paintings in this series contain similar minimal arrangements, though their lines vary in thickness and tone, and the runaway line may sneak down from the top of the canvas or divide into two loose ends.

It is not immediately obvious how these demure paintings act as portraits. Mahn’s modest palette of mainly greys and whites allows one to focus on his lines. They are so even that they almost look printed. Mahn’s use of a pallet knife makes for a very smooth stroke, disguising his hand.

Yet, upon a closer look, several characteristics emerge that complicate the seemingly neutral spaces within the outlines. Hints of color appear from beneath the layers of paint. Darker speckles emerge resembling dust. What looked at first to be empty space is actually filled with depth. These traces appear as Mahn lightly sands his final coat of paint, wearing down the top layer to reveal marks and bumps hidden under the surface. Texture and temperament do not occur through the brushstrokes, but instead, through the build-up—or breakdown—of layers.

Clay Mahn, “Eathers,” 2016. Cement, pine, plasterboard, 32 x 24 x 8 inches

Three cement installations reiterate the subtleties of the paintings’ layers. Each installation includes several reproductions of a geometric form. One can see minor differences in the tone of the cement or the precision of the casting, but since the groupings lay on the ground, certain angles remain hidden.

Mahn’s works are quirky and whimsical. Their subtle details draw viewers close. The paintings are especially playful with their off-centered, but endearing, linear antics. They tease by partially revealing and partially concealing their layers. This tension between the painted surface and what is exposed through sanding expresses chance and vulnerability. Mahn leaves viewers wondering what is intentional and what is the unconscious of the painting revealed unexpectedly through the process of eroding layers. (Frances Dorenbaum)

Through December 17 at Paris London Hong Kong, 845 West Washington