PREVIEW: 2023 HI-Fructose Invitational Group Exhibition @ Arch Enemy Arts [Philadelphia]

Flyer art: Rachael Pease
“Prometheus” (2023)
ink on frosted Mylar (Duralar)

Founded in 2005 by artists, Attaboy (Daniel Seifert) and Annie Owens, HI-Fructose magazine has more than left its impact on the New Contemporary art world. In fact, it literally helped to define it. As the press release for the publication’s “Invitational Exhibition” states, it was actually Seifert and Owens who coined the term “New Contemporary” as “an irreverent redundancy back in 2010.” The duo explains that it, “served as a good blanket term when other magazines were showing either street art, lowbrow or blue chip contemporary art. We’ve always approached all of these areas with the same regard and eye. In addition, we often covered art that didn’t fall into any of the categories mentioned, [art] that we are particularly interested in.” If anything helps to define exactly what the magazine focuses on when it comes to the difficult-to-categorize then it has to be their discerning and critical eye. The same can be said for the curation of their annual group show, along with the artwork showcased within it.

The first time that we posted a preview for one of the HI Fructose Invitational shows must have been 13 years ago and they always prove an impressive display of talent. Reading back over that original post, it reminds me of what my initial impression was like after getting a subscription to the magazine. After being somewhat disappointed that it was only a quarterly publication with a scant 4 issues per year, I quickly recognized that the creators were simply focusing much more on producing a quality product from cover to cover, rather than pushing out 3 times as many issues packed with filler consisting of content with debatable merit. In other words, this was “all killer, no filler.”

Everything about HI Fructose helped it stand out from other publications in a similar vein and ensured that it possessed its own identity. At the time, I commented that “its physical construction alone is worthy of admiration, feeling more like a work of art to be protected than a rag to toss carelessly in your bathroom.” And that, “each issue is full of extensive spreads and/or interviews, showcasing the backstories and details of various artists. There is very little focus on quick information or isolated imagery. Rather, each issue is well curated and formatted with in-depth coverage and substantial articles.” The part that I had completely forgotten was that my first issue was also “delivered in a carefully packed box with a free CD and a viewmaster reel (feat. designer toy art by Sam Flores, Mark Ryden, Jeremy Fish, Luke Chueh, etc.).” The founders definitely set out to do something special and nearly 2-decades into it, they are still running strong.

This year’s exhibition will be held at Arch Enemy Arts in Philadelphia and will feature thirty-four artists from across the world. In an effort to cover the broad, yet somewhat ill-defined, scope of everything that HI Fructose promotes and represents, contributions will include “everything from painter’s paintings to post-op explorations, interdisciplinary installations and oddball abstractions. Odes to academic realism, illustration, geometry and sculpture.” The selection of work promises to include the “strange and traditional, decorative and grotesque. Some of it is textural, some of it textual.” Meanwhile, the show “step[s] into environmental landscapes, atmospheric impressions, carefully rendered narratives, and architectures of the mind…all New Contemporary Art that’s been covered in the magazine.”

The 2023 HI Fructose Invitational Exhibition opens on October 6th, and while the exhibition will remain on view through the month, it’s definitely worth stopping in for opening night, if you happen to be in the area. As a bonus, at least 2 more separate art shows will be on display at the gallery for First Friday.

Check out the preview images for the exhibition below the following event details…