As the title of the exhibition suggests, these artists carve out spaces for their own bodies by making art that celebrates rebelling identities, redefines the structures of society and explores the way bodies change as we move through this world.
Walking through an arch into this intimate gallery space, you are confronted by the deep pinks and dynamic bodies of Alex Howey’s Hanging on the Limb of a Tree. The non-linear narrative of this painting depicts queer bodies moving through a liminal space, creating their own story and rewriting the traditional concept of gender.
Another stand out painting was Mary Naylor’s Orpheus and Eurydice. Named after a tragic tale of love and bravery, the swirling blues of this painting explore the body as a broken shell, using natural forms to respond to the artist’s own experiences of love and grief.
This exhibition is led by young artists, and includes artworks of many mediums, scales and styles, yet they work together to tell a story of hope and rebellion in human identity so perfectly.
Alongside the brass sculptures of Naroui Wang that explore dehumanization and memories, as well as the mixed-media works by Thomas Arnold that explore forgotten histories of queerness, is a beautiful series of analogue photographs by Stina Alden.
Flod Rocks, Flod Back and Flod Fox are thought provoking photographs that not only draw upon the physical and aesthetic similarities between the earth, humans and wild animals, but force its audience to think deeper about our interconnectedness, heritage and traditions. Through performance art and photography, Alden raises themes of otherness and responds to a hyper-masculine upbringing. The black and white photographs convey a sense of wildness that glows against the deep red walls behind them.
Carved Body is showing until February 22, so make sure to go along, it’ll make you question the societal structures surrounding identities and give you a new boldness as you step back out into the world – but don’t forget to grab a coffee on the way out.
Image Provided by SANKI Gallery for The Student