Upon entering HIDEBOUND, the latest exhibition by student artists Anna, Sandy, and Issy, the viewer is immediately confronted with a sense of discomfort. Held in a small room, the showcase effectively utilized the space to evoke unease through cold, stark lighting - but without making it feel cramped or claustrophobic.
Paintings of varying sizes and textures filled the space in unpredictable, immersive ways. Some hung from the ceiling or were suspended by string, creating a sensation of being enveloped by the artwork—an effect that contrasted strikingly against the room’s black walls.
Immersion followed through each piece of art and the way it engaged in various materials to create a tactile experience for the viewer. I particularly enjoyed the use of stretched-out latex which played on skin-like and bodily sensations. Similarly, ethically sourced animal skin used as a canvas heightened this grotesque discomfort, employing vivid physical imagery to intertwine the distinctions between human flesh and primal nature.
Meanwhile, other pieces featured elements like fur and hair, conveying a deeply visceral experience against the integration of other cold and unyielding metal works. This interplay of soft, familiar bodily materials and rigid, unforgiving elements further magnified the embodiment of conflicts between instinct and societal structure.
While animal symbolism played a central role in the exhibition's theme, it was often represented through literal imagery like urgent brushstrokes of hyenas and hounds. Though these pieces did well at representing a sense of anger, I found that the works on animal skin canvases stood out to be more compelling, provoking stronger emotional responses. Pieces featuring blurred human faces invited interpretation around the integration of individuality, sexualization, and the blending of these motifs with predatory instincts.
Ultimately, HIDEBOUND was a bold and evocative exhibition that pushed the boundaries of comfort and artistic exploration. The ability to merge material, texture, and symbolism into a cohesive, immersive experience marks the exhibition as an environment that, at times, would be overwhelming and unsettling—precisely the effect the artists aimed to achieve.