Ackland Art Museum: Reception for “Against Nature”
Welcome Back to Campus: Reception for “Against Nature”
The Ackland Art Museum welcomes back faculty, students, and staff to campus with a celebration for its newest installation in the ART& space, Phaan Howng: Against Nature.
In Against Nature, artist Phaan Howng positions an ornate botanical composition above wainscotting that suggests the architecture of a late nineteenth-century study or parlor. The paneling’s mint green tint evokes the green interior paints used in that period, achieved through harmful additions of arsenic. Above the wainscotting, painted vinyl banners depict a jungle of barely contained foliage with spikes and fronds of neon reds, electric oranges, cerulean blues, and bruised purples.
During the evening, we will be celebrating with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. Phaan will be present during the evening to mingle with attendees. Around 6:15 PM, she will briefly introduce the artwork and answer any questions.
Join us for an evening honoring Phaan and welcoming the installation to our community, as well as starting off the semester in a fun way!
This is a free drop-in event, no ticket purchase is required; but we ask for folks to please RSVP via the Ackland’s event webpage [https://events.ackland.org/event/welcome-back-to-campus-reception-for-against-nature/] to give us a proper headcount for the event.
Image credit: Phaan Howng, American, born 1982, Against Nature, 2026, acrylic on vinyl with wainscotting, 156 x 372 in. Temporary, site-specific installation at the Ackland from August 8, 2026 – July 11, 2027. © Phaan Howng. Photograph by Alex Maness Photography.
