Erik Frydenborg at The Pit

At The Pit in Glendale, Erik Frydenborg’s solo show “Shear Stress” plays with language, form, and knowability. The title itself is a play on words, relating both to geological pressure and the sheer anxiety that we’ve all experienced of late. Frydenborg’s sculptures also slide between forms, remaining obscure while dancing between architectural models, sci-fi beings, and abstract sculptures. The wooden sculptures are painted with delicate patterns that appear extruded from a comic book’s dot matrix, adding a digital flatness to the uncanny forms. The pieces’ quiet pace is a welcome reprieve from the rapid clip of modern life, providing a restful opportunity to spend dedicated time looking, pondering, and slowing down. 

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Photo: Erik Frydenborg, “Shear Stress,” installation view. Image courtesy of the artist and The Pit. Photo by Jeff McLane.