Curatorial Rationale

My exhibition conveys the emotion and feeling that people experience and associate with certain spaces. Each portrayed setting explores a certain mood and understanding that is associated with that space, defining and illustrating that reaction to the audience; as well as how that reaction has changed in recent times. I wanted to explore this theme in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, where due to quarantine our perception of certain spaces has changed radically, with bedrooms becoming akin to prisons and the outdoors becoming an elusive privilege.

My works are arranged based on the physical spaces they represent, portraying an evolution in how our understanding of specific areas has changed over the course of the pandemic and the lockdown. The exhibition starts with works depicting realistic, clean outdoor and public spaces, degrading into convoluted, abstract portrayals of indoor spaces. The progression of these works shows how our interpretation of the everyday environment has changed with these new circumstances, generally pushing us towards a sense of isolation, space, and a sense of mind where normal concepts such as time seem to hold no meaning.

Regarding the physical presentation of the works, I chose to display each piece alone in order for the audience to look at each artwork individually, rather than as a collection. This format allows for the audience to differentiate between the individual moods present in each piece, better understanding the transition present in the exhibition as a whole,

“Waterfront” opens the exhibition, setting an initial tone of calmness and melancholy. It illustrates a harmony between urban life and nature that one could only find outdoors, transporting the viewer to the scene of sunlight shining down onto their skin. By placing “Waterfront” at the start, I isolate this image of sunlight from the audience, especially as they move further into the exhibition. The viewer then moves onto “Aromatics,” which brings the viewer indoors while still maintaining the bright tone from the first piece. By changing the setting while maintaining the mood, we transition indoors is made subtle to the audience, representing our initial transition to quarantine. Both these pieces exemplify positive, joyful tones that contrast with the pieces later on.

“A day in the lab” begins the shift in tone; the lack of emphasis on any one subject creates a sense of chaos and distress in the audience, representing the initial sense of worry that came at the start of the pandemic. However, it still maintains the same vibrant colors that the previous pieces did, gradually easing the viewer into the thematic change. The first three works are also the only ones with vibrant colors, further pushing the overall message of isolation.

“Hushed library” continues the development of the mood, depicting a single corridor without any sign of human interference. This is the first hint at isolation within the exhibition, yet it is subtle and masked by the mood of calmness and tranquility, in part due to the expected lack of human interaction in a library.

Moving forth, “Glare” illustrates a radical juxtaposition from the previous works, establishing a clear point of emphasis and dramatic contrasts in lighting with the computer screen and background. This is the first major change in mood; the harsh light reminds the audience of their reliance on electronic devices while the lack of any other subject brings forth an idea of isolation, where the computer is the only thing present in one’s life.

“Distortion” and “Shattered” outline the worst feelings that inevitably come with quarantine; the sense of isolation, losing one’s self, and the lack of meaning in moving forward. The depiction of space is completely abstracted within these two pieces; representing the breakdown of life and our understanding of it as we know. Many of the normal feelings, for instance, a sense of relaxation and moment of peace, that we associate with our living spaces have been completely replaced by the sensation of imprisonment and loneliness with the new pandemic.

The exhibition concludes with “Solitude,” showing the only other depiction of the outside world other than “Waterfront,” which was found at the start. However, at this point, the mood of the exhibition has completely changed, and along with it the depiction of outdoor space. The lack of any human figure in a supposed space of bustling activity is cold and unsettling; a complete reversal of the positive, bright vibes first seen. The journey through my collection documents one’s descent into instability, recorded through their interactions and understanding of everyday spaces.