EXHIBITION PREFACE
"La fantasía, abandonada de la razón, produce monstruos imposibles; unida con ella, es madre de las artes y origen de las maravillas."
("Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters; united with it, she is the mother of the arts and the origin of marvels”)
- Francisco de Goya
It is often said that the most profound thoughts and ideas reside in the shadows, hidden from the glaring scrutiny of the public gaze. This exhibition, in its dedication to these very shadows, seeks to pull forth and illuminate the undercurrents that often remain obscured. From the loss of identity to the rediscovery of purpose, the works herein traverse a spectrum of experiences, reminding us of the impermanence and fluidity of human existence.
The exhibition encompasses a range of mediums, including oil painting, printmaking, sculpture, and multimedia installations. Artists employ ink, film, and found objects to piece together their experiences of life. Artist Gabby Dempster chooses to narrate family history on a tight-fitting corset through embroidery (Finding Rosalie), artist Jan Frith transforms an interactive Singer sewing machine embedded with memories (Sewn Memories), artist Tom Harper reproduces the traces of a printing room tabletop in the most direct manner, considering it a collaborative drawing (Ink Cast of A Print Room Table Top - A Collaborative Drawing). Behind the Door of Infinity (artist Jinlei Yang) was seven months of research and construction. Each piece stands as a testament to the hours of introspection, research, and experimentation.
The artists' choices regarding medium, presentation, and dimensions are not impulsive but rather carefully considered decisions. As a result, the concepts of the works are presented in the most fitting and convincing way. These works extend beyond mere expression - they are carefully crafted translations of complex ideas.
OBSCURA - Shadows and Whispers extends an invitation to wander through the labyrinthine of hidden thoughts and narratives. It is a reminder that the realm of art is not solely the dominion of spontaneous inspiration, but equally of methodical exploration and understanding.
- Pandora Wang, Curator
DATES AND OPENING HOURS
3 - 6 November 10:00 - 17:00
7 November 10:00 - 13:00
Private View: 3 November 18:00 - 20:30
VENUE
The Crypt Gallery
St Pancras New Church
165 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BA
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Claire Lee / Chan Hon Hei Curtis / Chanin Polpanumas / Cyril Arsac / Danica Dsouza / Dominique Holmes / Edmund Tan / Emily Zakoski / Gabby Dempster Gary Scott / Haerri Kim / Haochen Ren / Ilan Vaides / Jan Frith / Jialong Miao / Jasper Goodall / Jinlei Yang / Manav Patel / Mark Lawson Bell / Michelle Di Leo / Minjung Kim / Minju Kim / Oli Li / Peishan Jiang / Ruolin Xu / Sati Chen / Sarah Brabbin / Shuangqiang Li / Tom Harper / Wei Jian Chan Xiuhua Gu / Xinming Cai / Ying Ou / Yumeng Zhang