Ulala Imai

Lulu, Mexico City

Lulu

View through a doorway of a gallery with white walls and light blue floor. Above the doorway,"*lulu*" is written by hand in what looks like dark red crayon or paint. On the wall in the gallery hangs a painting of fruit.

Installation view of a room with a light blue floor and white wall. On the wall hangs a still life painting depicting a plate of colorful fruit on a striped table cloth.

Installation view of a room with light blue floor and three white walls. On the center wall hangs a still life painting depicting a plate of colorful fruit on a striped table cloth. Between the walls and the floor we can discern a small gap, making the floor seem like it is floating.

Left-angle installation view of the still life painting of a plate of colorful fruits on a striped tablecloth. The room has a light blue floor and white walls. Between the walls and the floor we can discern a small gap, making the floor seem like it is floating.

Right-angle installation view of the still life painting of a plate of colorful fruits on a striped tablecloth. The room has a light blue floor and white walls. Between the walls and the floor we can discern a small gap, making the floor seem like it is floating.

Closer, straight-on view of the still life painting of fruit on a striped tablecloth. The plate of fruit, which takes up the majority of the picture plane, is painted from the perspective of a person standing in front of it, viewing it from above. At the top left of the plate is a banana and a round citrus fruit painted in bright yellow, flanked by a handful of green grapes and an apple at the top. The fruit is fresh, just ripe, and is reflecting the surrounding light. Next to the apple lies a whirling dragonfruit painted in bright purple and contrasting green. Two peaches painted in matte purple, pink, and orange hues are nestled beside the dragonfruit, and occupying the lower part of the plate are two figs in dark purple and brown tones. The plate casts a shadow on the table cloth, over which green stripes run diagonally, enhancing the experience of depth.

Installation view of a room with light blue floor and two white walls. On the right wall is the still-life painting of fruit on a striped tablecloth. On the left wall hangs a painting of green avocado halves in a brown bowl. Between the walls and the floor we can discern a small gap, making the floor seem like it is floating.

Installation view of a still life painting hanging on the gallery wall. In the painting are six green avocado halves in a brown bowl.

Close up view of the painting of six green avocado halves in a brown bowl against a gray background. The avocados are painted in a luminescent green and three of the halves have brown pits the color of the bowl. The painting is rendered from the perspective of a person standing in front of the bowl, viewing it from slightly above.

Corner installation view of two white walls with a painting hanging on each wall. The painting on our left depicts a human skull on a green plate, and the painting on our right depicts avocado halves in a brown bowl.

Corner installation view of two white walls with a painting hanging on each wall. The painting on our left depicts a human skull on a green plate, and the painting on our right depicts avocado halves in a brown bowl. Between the walls and the floor we can discern a small gap, making the floor seem like it is floating.

Corner installation view of two white walls with a painting hanging on each wall. The painting on our left depicts a human skull on a green plate, and the painting on our right depicts avocado halves in a brown bowl. From this angle, the side of the painting of the skull is visible, and we can see what look like five nails or tacks holding the canvas in place.

Installation view of a room with light blue floor and white walls. To the left we can see the sliver of a doorway leading into another room. On the wall hangs the still life painting of a human skull on a green plate.

Corner installation view of a gallery with light blue floor, white walls and a doorway at the center. Between the walls and the floor we can discern a small gap, making the floor seem like it is floating. On the wall on our right hangs the painting of a human skull on a green plate. Through the doorway we can see into the next room, which has a tiled floor in light brown with dark brown inlays arranged in a geometrical pattern. We can also see a second doorway leading into a third room.

Close up view of the still life painting of a human skull on a green glass plate. The skull is light grey, and facing left, as if gazing outside the picture plane. The semi-transparent glass plate on which it rests casts green reflections on the white surface below, which looks like a tablecloth running diagonally over a wooden table. The painting is rendered from the perspective of a person standing in front of the still life, viewing it from slightly above.

Installation view of a sequence of two rooms with a tiled floor and white walls, seen through a doorway. The flooring is light brown, with an inlay of dark brown or black tiles in a rectangular pattern. In the top left corner, we can see the leaves and a branch of a palm tree peeking in from outside the picture frame. Through the doorway we can see two more doorways, one leading into a room with light blue floor on our left, and one leading into another room in front of us where a painting of cherries hang on the wall.

View of a still life of a group of seven cherries with light green stems on a gray, reflective surface. The cherries are painted in bright red with white dots of reflecting light, making them appear fresh. Their arrangement seems arbitrary, as if held in the hand and then casually dropped on a table. The green stems of the cherries all point in different directions. The painting is from the perspective of a person standing in front of the still life, viewing it from slightly above. The painting hangs on a white wall.

Installation view of a building with a white or light pink facade with an entrance doorway leading into a narrow antechamber with plywood-clad walls. The pavement in front of the facade is partly covered in moss, and a few yellowed leaves are visible. The weather is clear, and parts of the facade are lit by sunlight through surrounding vegetation located outside the picture frame. Above the doorway cables hang haphazardly, and directly above the entrance the text "*lulu*" is handwritten in red paint. The narrow antechamber has a second doorway leading into a gallery with a white wall and light blue floor. On the wall we can glimpse a painting in beige, yellow, white, and brown colors.

Installation view of a gallery with light blue floor and white walls. On the central wall hangs a still life of a potato poised on top of a mug, and a banana on top of what looks like a ceramic Chewbacca head. The background is a golden yellow-beige color.

Slightly closer installation view of a gallery with light blue floor and white walls. On the central wall hangs a still life of a potato poised on top of a mug, and a banana on top of what looks like a ceramic Chewbacca head. The background is a golden yellow-beige color.

Left-angle installation view of a gallery with light blue floor and white walls. On the central wall hangs a still life of a potato poised on top of a mug, and a banana on top of what looks like a ceramic Chewbacca head. The background is a golden yellow-beige color.

Closer installation view of the still life painting with potato, banana, and ceramic objects, hanging on the white wall of the gallery. The mug on the left side of the image has a face with round eyes, a round nose, and a brown handlebar mustache. On closer inspection, there appears to be a silver chain inserted into the potato that drapes down on the right side of the mug. To the right of the mug and potato is what looks like a ceramic Chewbacca head with a banana balancing on top of it. The background is a golden yellow-beige color.

Right angle installation view of the still life painting with potato, banana, and ceramic objects, hanging on the white wall of the gallery. The mug on the left side of the image has a face with round eyes, a round nose, and a brown handlebar mustache. On closer inspection, there appears to be a silver chain inserted into the potato that drapes down on the right side of the mug. To the right of the mug and potato is what looks like a ceramic Chewbacca head with a banana balancing on the top of it. The background is a golden yellow-beige color.

Close up installation view of the still life painting with potato, banana, and ceramic objects. The mug, located on the left side of the painting, has a brown handle pointing to the left. On the front of the mug is a cartoonish, white face with round eyes, a big nose, a smiling mouth, and a brown handlebar mustache. On top of the mug is a potato with a small nail sticking out of it. A silver chain hangs from the nail, draping down onto the tabletop and out of the picture frame. The potato is yellow and brown, and almost blends into the background. Next to the mug, on the right side of the painting, is what looks like a ceramic Chewbacca head. It is brown and about twice as tall as the mug. It's slightly open mouth is shaped like a wide oval. There is a banana balancing on top of it.

Corner installation view of the gallery with light blue floor and white walls. On the left wall hangs the still life painting of a potato, a banana, and ceramic objects. To the right hangs a smaller still life painting of two sandwiches on baguettes, one of which is open faced, revealing slices of ham and butter.

Installation view of the gallery with light blue floor and white walls. On the wall in front of us hangs the still life painting of two sandwiches on baguettes, one of which is open faced, revealing slices of ham and butter.

Still life painting of two sandwiches on baguettes against a grey background. One is open faced, revealing thick slices of ham and butter. There is a partial stick of butter in its wrapping in the top right corner of the painting. The sandwiches take up the majority of the picture plane and are painted from the perspective of a person standing in front of the still life, viewing it from slightly above.

Corner installation view of the gallery. On the wall on our left hangs the still life painting of two ham and butter sandwiches on baguettes. On the wall on our right hangs a smaller still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table.

Corner installation view of the gallery with white walls and a light blue floor. On the wall on our left hangs the still life painting of two ham and butter sandwiches on baguettes. On the wall on our right hangs a smaller still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table.

Corner installation view of the gallery with white walls, a light blue floor, and to our right, a doorway onto the sidewalk outside. On the wall on our left hangs the still life painting of two ham and butter sandwiches on baguettes. On the wall on our right hangs a smaller still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table. To the right of this painting is the doorway onto the street where a black car is parked beneath foliage. Behind the car, is a building with garage doors and red roof shingles.

Installation view of the gallery with white walls, a light blue floor, and to our right, a doorway onto the sidewalk outside. On the wall on our left hangs the still life painting of two ham and butter sandwiches on baguettes. On the wall directly ahead of us hangs a smaller still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table. To the right of this painting is the doorway onto the street. From this angle, the doorway frames an outdoor plant in a pot on the sidewalk. Behind it, further down the street, we can glimpse a parked red car and a person standing behind it. The weather appears clear.

Installation view of the gallery with white walls, a light blue floor, and to our right, a doorway onto the sidewalk outside. On the wall on our left hangs the still life painting of two ham and butter sandwiches on baguettes. On the wall directly ahead of us hangs a smaller still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table. To the right of this painting is the doorway onto the street, which frames a child in motion. The weather appears clear.

Installation view of the gallery with white walls, a light blue floor, and to our right, a doorway onto the sidewalk outside. On the wall directly ahead of us hangs the still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table. To the right of the painting is the doorway onto the street. From this angle, the doorway frames an outdoor plant in a pot on the sidewalk. Behind it, further down the street, we can glimpse a parked red car and a person standing behind it. The weather appears clear.

Installation view of the gallery with white walls and a light blue floor. On the wall directly in front of us hangs the still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden surface.

Close up view of the still life painting of a half-peeled banana on a wooden table. The banana appears as if someone has taken a bite from it or broken a chunk off. It occupies most of the picture plane, with the pulled back peel disappearing out of the frame to the right. The peel is painted in bright yellow with brown spots and strokes. The surface that the banana is resting on is painted in darker and lighter shades of brown in a pattern that evokes wood.

Ulala ImaiHola StrangersLulu, Mexico City

Exhibition Images

Ulala ImaiHola Strangers
Lulu, Mexico City