FRAN HAYES

04.05 - 05.05 23
22fifty, 32 Jamieson Street, Cape Town

Curated by Fran Hayes

"This is the first exhibition I have organised on my own, although I can hardly say that with all the love and support I have received from everyone involved. Through the exhibition, I wanted to create a space that is not just welcoming and inclusive, but that vibrates with immense energy. I feel extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to invite a group of incredibly talented artists into this invented and radical space, where experimentation and play are not just accepted but encouraged. It is an interweaving of practices and people, a dance across mediums. I wanted the exhibition to show predominantly experimental making processes and outcomes - whether the medium be one of technological complexity or analogue crafting - while also holding space for themes that reflect the heavier (deeper) and grittier side of humanity. The themes touched upon range from the purely aesthetic to mythology, emptiness, broken hearts, changing bodies and imagined environments. What more could you ask for?"

Press Release

a pigeon flies up to a window, perching tentatively on its sill
it is the first floor of a building block in a quiet back street in Cape Town
the pigeon was drawn to the window by the strange sounds it hears within

(oozing organic
alien technology)

lights flicker subtly behind frosted glass
figures slump around in slow motion, strange hypnotic dance-like movement
the pigeon surveils, transfixed by the swaying bodies and dampened light
a coming together of different beings
a symbiotic dancefloor

one figure approaches the window - opening it a crack - giving the pigeon its first clear view of the scene within

(burning embers tumble from a lit cigarette)

inside the space…
the pigeon sees artworks as systems of resistance, means for collaborative minds to form productive solutions for earthly issues
the pigeon sees the intersection of art, sound, technology, and dance culture, a generous space vibrating with the energies of those who built it
the pigeon experiences traditionally feminine crafts viewed in the same light as the often rigid bodies of high-technology
the pigeon hears invented noise, inspired by myriad of influences from ecological crisis to speculative and alternate realities
the pigeon experiences a safe space to discuss the issues of the art world and beyond, a radical space that welcomes all

through the eyes of a pigeon is a collaborative and immersive exhibition at the intersection of art and music. it aims to break down the barriers that separate different mediums and practices

(for we should all be trespasser)

while showcasing a variety of Cape Town’s emerging creative community from the perspective of a non-human entity. the pigeon is a symbol of resistance against human gentrification, a robust creature that does not just survive, but thrives in the cracks.

04.05 - 05.05 23 22fifty, 32 Jamieson Street, Cape Town

Curated by Fran Hayes

04.05 - 05.05 23
22fifty, 32 Jamieson Street, Cape Town