Chimeras Opening Reception
Hinterland is proud to announce the upcoming solo exhibition “CHIMERAS” by Kingston-based multi-disciplinary artist Courtney Dudley. The show will open to the public on March 15, 2024, from 5-8pm at the Hinterland gallery.
Drawing inspiration from the botanical concept of chimeras—plants or plant parts that are a mixture of genetically different types of cells—Dudley’s “CHIMERAS” explore themes of hybridization, transformation, an interconnectedness. The name pays homage to the legendary fire-breathing monster from Greek mythology, known for its composite features of a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent’s tail.
Dudley’s work blurs the boundaries between painting and textile processes, challenging the conventional distinctions between function and art. “CHIMERAS” presents a series of works that transcend traditional categorizations, existing simultaneously as paintings, sculptures, and symbolic quilts.
Dudley is meticulous in her use of self-grown or gathered natural materials to create the dyes that color each piece in the exhibition. Utilizing commonplace kitchen tools, Dudley cultivates dyes into artifacts that seem to suspend time and place. Each plant dye carries with it a rich history spanning cultures, seasons, religions, and medicinal uses. Dudley’s process involves a symbiotic relationship between plant and artist, as she pours shapes inspired by microscopic imagery, ultrasounds, and reflections in mirrors. These materials fuse and mutate under her guidance, with Dudley following the organic paths of the dyes and stitching connections to create peaks and valleys within each work. However, ultimately, each piece takes on its own autonomous identity.
Thematically, “CHIMERAS” delves into concepts of self-determination, birth, and loss, while simultaneously offering a place of refuge amidst the chaos of the world. Dudley’s process serves as a microcosm of sustainability, in stark contrast to the destruction wrought upon the earth by human hands. In every aspect of their creation, Dudley’s works aim to be inclusive objects that support and encourage a culture of mindful collectivism.
“CHIMERAS” will be on display at Hinterland from March 15 to March 31, 2024, Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm.
Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
