I’M FINE, IT’S FINE ART. 2024
I’m Fine, It’s Fine Art
Solo exhibition, The Underground Gallery, Calgary,
Origin point for The Existential Dreadlings long-form project
Overview
I’m Fine, It’s Fine Art is a solo exhibition built as an immersive installation where sculpture, narrative, and sound create a space for reflection and dialogue. The work externalises contemporary anxiety through a cast of absurd companions, each accompanied by lore and an individual soundscape. The installation invites visitors into recognition rather than resolution, treating dread as a shared condition rather than a private failure.
Key details
Format: immersive installation and sculptural series
Components: sculpture, lore texts, soundscapes, digital engagement
Role: artist
The Existential Dreadlings has evolved into a long-form project, and can be viewed in the CURRENT/FEATURE section of WORK.
“I’m Fine, It’s Fine…Art” is an immersive installation that blends handcrafted materials, ceramics, plasters, resins, with soundscapes, and digital engagements to explore contemporary societal and existential concerns, THROUGH A SERIES OF SCULPTURES REFERRED TO AS The Dreadlings.
This installation aims to foster a sense of community, where visitors can come together to explore their anxieties and find solace in shared experiences and dialogue. By addressing the anxieties of contemporary life in an accessible and relatable manner, “I’m Fine, It’s Fine…Art” offers a unique approach to discussing global concerns. The integration of new media elements like soundscapes and digital engagements further enhances the immersive experience, encouraging visitors to confess their dreads or reflect on their emotions in a digital format. This project is a timely and vital contribution to the discourse on art, identity, and value in our contemporary fucked-up society.
The Dreadlings serve as a bridge between personal experiences and broader societal narratives. Each sculpture comes with its background narrative and lore with an accompanying individual soundscape, transforming the gallery into a dynamic space for reflection and dialogue. For instance, Vesper, the Protector of Night, offers comfort against the fears that come with darkness, while Cumu, the Doom-Scrolling Absorber, addresses the anxiety of endless social media consumption. These characters make the abstract tangible, creating a shared experience of vulnerability and resilience.
