They Catch Feelings, I Catch Bodies

Sim Smith is delighted to present, ‘They Catch Feelings, I Catch Bodies’.

This group exhibition explores how artists depict the body and how it performs in an age where we not only want, but expect intimacy and access on a daily basis. From daily rituals to sell out performances, this group show asks the question ‘how does art portray the body now?’

The exhibition features artworks by Jenna Gribbon (b. 1978, US), Aneta Kajzer (b. 1989, Germany), Kemi Onabule (b. 1995, UK), Anne Ryan (b. 1964, Ireland).

Combining original paintings that uncover the body; its capabilities, its feelings and fancies, this exhibition considers where we draw the line between function and fiction.

The selection of paintings pursue a comprehensive and complex portrayal of the body and performance. From the explicit to the self conscious, some bodies are brazen in their accuracy and others, reveal themselves more slowly through layers of apparent abstraction. Enduring dialogues abound; gestural negotiations, intricate details and intimate moments play out under the heavy observation and voyeuristic gaze of both the artist and the onlooker. Together, these artists open windows into new worlds whilst reflecting accurately on our own in an inquisitive yet knowing portrayal of the body and its performance.