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Opening Reception | Saturday, August 4, 2018 | 6-8p Dab Art is pleased to present DRINK ME at H Gallery in midtown Ventura. DRINK ME is a clear departure from the painterly experience of archetypal art exhibits. This collection of artworks challenges the primary concept of representational realism. Is the world we see around us the real world itself or merely an internal perceptual copy of that world? This conceptual exhibit uses 2D, 3D, stationary and interactive art to explore this question. In 1929, Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte famously demonstrated the philosophical position that our conscious experience is not of the real world itself, but simply an internal representation. His work, THIS IS NOT A PIPE was a clever way to protest the conventional art ideals at the time. The painting is a pipe and below it, Magritte painted, "Ceci n'est pas une pipe.", French for "This is not a pipe." Highly criticized by the oppressive rationalists of the time Magritte memorably wrote about his piece; The famous pipe. How people reproached me for it! And yet, could you stuff my pipe? No, it's just a representation, is it not? So if I had written on my picture 'This is a pipe', I'd have been lying! -René Magritte Similar to René Magritte, the artists featured in DRINK ME explore the notion of indirect or representational realism through their selected mediums. Their tangible interpretations of sensory input are fulfilled in works of installation, ceramic, photography, assemblage, oil paintings and mixed media. ideals or art at the time. Containing playful or darkly humorous overtones these works provoke conversation and reflection from the audience. By inviting viewer participation and interaction DRINK ME changes the overall viewer experience.