Foreign Bodies is a multi-site contemporary art project, reflecting upon the notion of the ‘foreign’ in relation to prevailing attitudes in the UK.
Organised by students on the MA Curation course at University of Exeter, Foreign Bodies explores the experience of being on the margins and what it feels like to be an outsider in a dominant cultural context.
As well as considering issues of diversity and inclusion in relation to gender, health, sexuality, and race, Foreign Bodies considers what it must be like to be ‘more than human’ in an urban setting, and how our unchecked consumerism has polluted the world’s oceans. The project also invites alternative modes of thinking, beyond traditional Western divisions of nature and culture, such as the esoteric practices of magic and divination.
Foreign Bodies
Projects
Curator
Fei Geng, Zhouying Meng, Shijia YanArtist
Samuel Zhang, Hester YangSeeing Double
Seeing Double features the practice of artists, Hester Yang and Samuel Zhang. By exploring the impact on personal identity and the process of ‘seeing double’ when living in a second culture, this exhibition is committed to showing the pursuit of self-identity by young contemporary Chinese artists working in an international art context. When people from different backgrounds in the same country try to find a similar social identity, the community is formed. Using personal experience and others’ stories as a starting point, the two artists jointly explore the topic of ‘being foreign’ in a majority culture, both in the past and in the present.
Curator
Yujie Chen, Shuo Gong, Yuxin WangArtist
KeFan Wang, YARA + DAVINA, Yihao ZhangDivinations
The exhibition explores the theme of divination within the context of mysticism and spirituality. It aims to present two key aspects: the rise of feminism and the exchange and fusion of different divination cultures. The exhibition showcases the works of female diviners and interpreters, highlighting the importance and influence of women in this field. Interactive divination activities are also provided to allow visitors to experience this firsthand. The exhibition seeks to spark interest in mysticism and divination, to promote respect for the feminist tradition and to foster intercultural understanding. Ultimately, it aims to inspire hope and confidence in the future through the exploration of spirituality and divination.
Curator
Siyuan HuangArtist
Marie LehmannFantastic Mr (Urban) Fox
Fantastic Mr (Urban) Fox (curated by Siyuan Huang) presents the work of Marie Lehmann who envisions the rewilding of cities and closer human-animal coexistence. The exhibition reflects on the recent COVID-19 pandemic, a time when wildlife reclaimed deserted inner cities, prompting us to imagine a renewed symbiosis between human beings and other species within urban spaces.
Curator
Isla McGregor-Smith, Ashleigh Sirs, Sabrina SudolArtist
Ashanti Hare, Tëan Roberts, Melanie StidolphSubmerged Bodies
Building upon the ideas and theories of Hydrofeminism put forth by Astrida Neimanis, who argues that we are all bodies of water inextricably connected to the natural world, Submerged Bodies: Mythical Reflections in South West Waters will explore the relationship between the artist’s body and water, whilst considering the myths that exist around gender and water. In the global context of environmental disaster, it is now, more than ever, important to re-learn how we can connect our bodies with nature and exist on our planet.
Curator
Kourtney Chu, Sampada Ladke, Yingjun LiArtist
Ayla Bramblett, Izi Coonagh, Adriana Ford, Naomi Hart, Diane Leopard, Kate WaltersMore Than Pink
More Than Pink (curated by Kourtney Chu, Sampada Ladke, Yingjun Li) featuring works that aim to challenge conventional perceptions of breast cancer by artists Ayla Bramblett, Izi Coonagh, Adriana Ford, Naomi Hart, Diane Leopard and Kate Walters. Countering traditional association with the colour pink, the artworks express a diverse range of emotions and experiences associated with the disease, including a focus on the role of art in supporting individuals through their journey.
Curator
Jiayi Kang, Yueyao WuArtist
Steve McPhersonPlastic Ocean
Plastic Ocean (curated by Jiayi Kang and Yueyao Wu) is a solo exhibition by photographer Steve McPherson showcasing his ongoing documentation of global marine plastic pollution. Forming an ‘undesirable archive’ of detritus washed up on our beaches, this photographic project aims to visualise the extent to which plastic waste impacts on the marine environment.
Curator
Fei Geng, Zhouying Meng, Shijia YanArtist
Samuel Zhang, Hester YangSeeing Double
Seeing Double features the practice of artists, Hester Yang and Samuel Zhang. By exploring the impact on personal identity and the process of ‘seeing double’ when living in a second culture, this exhibition is committed to showing the pursuit of self-identity by young contemporary Chinese artists working in an international art context. When people from different backgrounds in the same country try to find a similar social identity, the community is formed. Using personal experience and others’ stories as a starting point, the two artists jointly explore the topic of ‘being foreign’ in a majority culture, both in the past and in the present.
Curator
Isla McGregor-Smith, Ashleigh Sirs, Sabrina SudolArtist
Ashanti Hare, Tëan Roberts, Melanie StidolphSubmerged Bodies
Building upon the ideas and theories of Hydrofeminism put forth by Astrida Neimanis, who argues that we are all bodies of water inextricably connected to the natural world, Submerged Bodies: Mythical Reflections in South West Waters will explore the relationship between the artist’s body and water, whilst considering the myths that exist around gender and water. In the global context of environmental disaster, it is now, more than ever, important to re-learn how we can connect our bodies with nature and exist on our planet.
Curator
Yujie Chen, Shuo Gong, Yuxin WangArtist
KeFan Wang, YARA + DAVINA, Yihao ZhangDivinations
The exhibition explores the theme of divination within the context of mysticism and spirituality. It aims to present two key aspects: the rise of feminism and the exchange and fusion of different divination cultures. The exhibition showcases the works of female diviners and interpreters, highlighting the importance and influence of women in this field. Interactive divination activities are also provided to allow visitors to experience this firsthand. The exhibition seeks to spark interest in mysticism and divination, to promote respect for the feminist tradition and to foster intercultural understanding. Ultimately, it aims to inspire hope and confidence in the future through the exploration of spirituality and divination.
Curator
Kourtney Chu, Sampada Ladke, Yingjun LiArtist
Ayla Bramblett, Izi Coonagh, Adriana Ford, Naomi Hart, Diane Leopard, Kate WaltersMore Than Pink
More Than Pink (curated by Kourtney Chu, Sampada Ladke, Yingjun Li) featuring works that aim to challenge conventional perceptions of breast cancer by artists Ayla Bramblett, Izi Coonagh, Adriana Ford, Naomi Hart, Diane Leopard and Kate Walters. Countering traditional association with the colour pink, the artworks express a diverse range of emotions and experiences associated with the disease, including a focus on the role of art in supporting individuals through their journey.
Curator
Siyuan HuangArtist
Marie LehmannFantastic Mr (Urban) Fox
Fantastic Mr (Urban) Fox (curated by Siyuan Huang) presents the work of Marie Lehmann who envisions the rewilding of cities and closer human-animal coexistence. The exhibition reflects on the recent COVID-19 pandemic, a time when wildlife reclaimed deserted inner cities, prompting us to imagine a renewed symbiosis between human beings and other species within urban spaces.
Curator
Jiayi Kang, Yueyao WuArtist
Steve McPhersonPlastic Ocean
Plastic Ocean (curated by Jiayi Kang and Yueyao Wu) is a solo exhibition by photographer Steve McPherson showcasing his ongoing documentation of global marine plastic pollution. Forming an ‘undesirable archive’ of detritus washed up on our beaches, this photographic project aims to visualise the extent to which plastic waste impacts on the marine environment.
Locations
For addresses of venues, please see drop-pin descriptors below the map.
Foreign Bodies projects. Visit project page for information about opening and accessibility.
(former Meat 59 restaurant) 26 Bedford Street, Exeter EX1 1GJ
(former Surridge Gallery) 11-15 Bedford Street, Exeter EX1 1GG
Positive Light Projects 184-187 Sidwell Street, Exeter EX4 6RD
Thanks & Credits
Hannah Overton, Princesshay; Brendan Barry and George Barron, Positive Light Projects; Nathan Gale, Trystan Thompson and Radley Cook, Intercity; William Bocchinelli, bocc(dot)dev; Monika Przerwa-Tetmajer, Art plus Frames; Jon England; Jon Primrose, Communications, Drama & Film AV team, University of Exeter; Olya Petrakova, Maketank. Anna Bunt, Arts and Culture.