BARRY MCGEE, err, I Meant Lydia Fong

"Lydia Fong - A Moment for Reflection"
September 5 - October 18, 2008
@Ratio 3 // 1447 Stevenson St. San Francisco, CA
Written by Mike Lin for Fecal Face, 9/08/08

Add Lydia Fong to the list of pseudonyms used by San Francisco artist Barry McGee. A solo exhibition A Moment for Reflection: new works by Lydia Fong opened stealthily at Ratio 3 on Fri, Sept. 5. Up until two week ago the Ratio 3 website had the show simply listed as ’something by somebody’.
McGee introduces a new lexicon of flat geometric patterns and shapes with this exhibition, along with more familiar work - moving sculptures, a video installation, surf boards, a pimple, photographs and several clusters of paintings. If you look closely you might also find a slice of orange sitting atop a painting, and rolled orange peels squeezed between two paintings. The exhibit also features drawings by McGee’s father.

At the last show I asked Ratio 3 gallery owner Chris Perez what the next show was; his response was ‘It’s a surprise’. A very nice surprise indeed.