Swan House Fall Exhibitions (Tuesdays)

From the venue:

Experiments in Utopia - Sarah Hobbs
Curated by Ashley Kauschinger
September 26 - October 31
Reception: Thursday, September 26, 6-9 p.m.
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 5, 3 p.m.

The Swan Coach House Gallery is pleased to present Experiments in Utopia, a photography and installation exhibition featuring works by Sarah Hobbs. The exhibition is curated by Ashley Kauschinger.

Step into the parallel world meticulously crafted by Sarah Hobbs in her new solo exhibition, Experiments in Utopia. Characteristically playful, psychological, and introspective, Hobbs constructs “utopian spaces” that reflect how we reckon with the self and the modern world. These works, inspired by surreal utopian spaces like wellness retreats, bunkers, cults, social media, and memory, are alternate realities outside of specific time and space. Through these imaginative constructs, Hobbs explores the utopian ways modern processes can create worlds of disconnection and self-avoidance that lead to feelings of marooned dissociation. Hobbs offers space to understand, live, remember, and converse with the self and contemporary world.

The exhibition features a range of mediums, including photographs, video, and sculptural installations. The video piece “Somewhat Fragile” investigates the personal utopia of the mind and nostalgia through intimate, diaristic photographs, exploring the delicate and pliable nature of memory. Sculptural works titled “Portable Utopias” construct transportable realities, acting as travel first aid kits for the mind and offering viewers a tangible escape. The photograph “Romanticizing Your Life” delves into the pandemic-born trend of viewing oneself as the main character in a constructed narrative, a utopic coping strategy that extends beyond the pandemic and social media. Through these diverse works, Hobbs invites viewers to reflect on the intricate interplay between ourselves, our surroundings, and society in shaping our psychological outlooks.