The South London Gallery presents a major solo exhibition by artist Nairy Baghramian. For over 20 years she has been making sculptures that ask you to reconsider your sense of self, space and relation to the object.
Made from materials such as marble, wood, metal and resin, her sculptures often respond to the surrounding environment, engaging with architecture and people. Using a wide range of techniques, they subtly explore connections between art and other creative industries, such as interior design, dance and theatre. Whilst at first they appear to be abstract, they are often suggestive of parts of the body, hinting at joints, gestures, limbs, skin and teeth.
Jumbled Alphabet brings together sculptures from the artist’s Misfits series, disrupting the idea of children’s building toys in which pieces fit together perfectly. Misfits celebrates the beauty of things that don’t fit, and the creativity found in what’s considered “dis-functional”. The series recognises the magic of being an outsider and seeing the potential in imperfection.
These ideas are taken further in new hybrid sculptures created by Baghramian in a process of exchange with other artists. They play on ideas of the hand-me-down and the fitting together of mismatched parts. This spirit of playful collaboration is also seen in an evolving drawing made by children who visit the SLG during the exhibition.