Adam Belt | Untitled (Cloud of Unknowing)

Quint Gallery is pleased to present a new, monumental installation by Adam Belt at ONE. His art practice has developed around the experience of natural phenomena, perception of light and space, both within the scope of scientific revelation and spirituality, through sculpture, site-specific installation, drawing, and painting. 

Untitled (Cloud of Unknowing) extends the viewer’s perception of depth to a seemingly limitless expanse, both articulated and disoriented by “fog” layers in what would otherwise be an empty space. While this element of visual orientation is missing, the overall perception of depth and perspective, both linear and atmospheric, are visible in the work and move with the viewer’s movements. Untitled (Cloud of Unknowing) is an installation which brings together the artist’s past experimentation with the effect of infinity mirrors, depth in landscape painting and recent sculptural work in his Phase Form series. This installation represents a shift in Belt’s practice, which was previously framed through recognizable references, such as a shape of a telescope mirror. Like his recent Phase Form cubes, this open-ended installation distills material and form into an essential mass, removed from symbolism.

Regarding the title of the work, Belt says: “The Cloud of Unknowing comes from a 14th century book of the same name, thought to be written by a monk for other monastics pursuing a contemplative life of prayer. The focus of contemplation in the Christian tradition is to connect to God directly through love. The author posits that to experience God directly one must forget everything and enter into a “cloud of unknowing” before moving to the direct encounter with God.” He reflects on how, as more people are leaving organized religion, museums and galleries are increasingly becoming places to experience the other or the unseen, whether a James Turrell Skyspace or a Rothko painting.

Belt received his M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University in 2001. His work has been exhibited at a variety of museums and galleries locally and nationally including; the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville AR, Franklin Parrasch Gallery, New York, NY; and RCM Galerie, Paris, France. His work is included in many private and public collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library and the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation, Santa Fe, NM. Adam lives and works in San Diego, CA. 

Adam Belt would like to extend a special thanks to Zachary Dobbins and M1 Window Tint, San Marcos for their role in building this work.