SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO– Eight Modern is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, Hardly Smooth: Efren Candelaria. This solo exhibition features an array of minimalist graphite drawings on wood veneer and paper installed by the artist, as well as a multi-media installation.

At the core of each piece is Candelaria’s freehand drawing of the vertical line. The literally linear expresses a non-linear grammar that reflects an organic, unconstrained approach. Through his work abstract ideas find concrete form.

As is typical of the artist’s exhibitions, Hardly Smooth will not be a display of disparate works of art, but rather a comprehensive exhibition created specifically for the space, with each piece tied to a central theme.

Candelaria’s art is rooted in his childhood growing up watching his relatives draw. He played soccer at the University of Puerto Rico, later transferring to the University of Miami where he quickly found himself absorbed in artistic creation.

In order to be honest to his inspiration, Candelaria eschews geometric perfection for the inevitable curves and bumps of freehand drawing. His work is highly informed by repetition, numbers, time and space.

The work in Hardly Smooth reflects his conception of each line in a piece of art as a specific point in time and space. Candelaria is a bold young artist who is not afraid of negative space, imperfection or unconventional methods. His approach towards art-making is aggressive and ambitious. Candelaria is careful to avoid the didactic, therefore leaving his artwork open for interpretation. His desire is to show viewers his own decision-making and let them tie the loose ends to their own stories.

Hardly Smooth: Efren Candelaria will run from Friday, October 12, through Sunday, November 11, 2007. Eight Modern is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays, at 231 Delgado Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. For further information and image requests, contact Jaquelin Loyd or Margo Thoma.