UNION gallery is pleased to present MEDUSA, a provocative collection of contemporary artworks inspired by the mythical figure of Medusa - though more as a principle, curated by Mike Chavez-Dawson
This exhibition reimagines Medusa not as a monster, but as an emblem of resistance against patriarchal and authoritative oppression. The artists featured in this collection use a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, digital art, and mixed media, to build upon this notion.. They delve into her transformation from a beautiful maiden into a feared gorgon, exploring themes of autonomy, power, and the reclamation of
patriarchal narratives.
The exhibition aims to spark dialogue about the ways in which ancient myths influence contemporary views on gender and authority. Medusa’s story resonates with many who feel marginalized or misunderstood. Chavez-Dawson was intrigued by the myth of Medusa and the Lacan take on Medusa as an archetype of defiance in the face of the powers that be, a liminal state of neither immortal or mortal - or as Muslich states “Medusa repels and attracts at the same time. She is a snake monster but equally a femme fatale. She unites the beauty and the beast…” but the crux is about how art can go beyond the cathartic in terms of emotional turmoil and how it sticks two fingers up to the constraints of social norms, a poison and an antidote in one…
This exhibition is a celebration of her strength and a call to challenge the systems that seek to suppress our voices.
Ada Bond
Brass Art
Jane Chavez-Dawson
Mike Chavez-Dawson
Rebecca Davy
Karen Densham
Sarah Hardacre
Sam Owen Hull
Hilary Jack
Rachel Goodyear
Ruth Murray
Freddie Robins
Angela Tait
Nye Thompson
Jessica Voorsanger
Jude Wainwright
Evita Ziemele