Story Time, opening on the 6th of March at RHODES, features four artists whose works utilise symbolism and lyricism to tell stories on identity, womanhood, and the human condition. Whether the characters are situated in a snowscape, campground, or the middle of a lake, there is an unmistakable sense that a tale is being told.
L. Song Wu’s works encapsulate the sense of loneliness one can feel, even when in contact with others. Lifeline symbolises this experience through the motif of a landline phone, with the cord reaching out beyond the canvas. Despite her assumed interaction with another, unseen person, Wu’s character appears distressed. This anxiety is created both through the unnatural, red hue of her skin, but also with the contrast to the bright blues and greens of the outside world through the window. Through these unanswered questions, L. Song Wu creates a trail of stories that explore the lengths of isolation and connection we can experience.
With visual parallels to L. Song Wu, Melody Tuttle’s red-skinned figures appear alone in Story Time, looking towards themselves for comfort. The anonymity of the character and landscape in Polar Plunge creates a sense of self-love and female resilience in the hardest of situations. While the piece suggests isolation and individual experiences, there is also an underlying feeling of purpose and choice. A ‘Polar Plunge’ could be likened to an ice bath or a cold swimming session, an individual act but one made with purpose and often alongside a community of likeminded people. Regardless, the mystery of who she is, why she is there, and what she is doing, leaves us to create our own stories for Tuttle’s characters.
In contrast to Wu and Tuttle’s depictions of isolation through a single figure, both Zoe Hawk’s works in Story Time explore the experience of feeling alone in a group. In After Dark, she uses the age-old motif of the childhood camping trip to remind us how cold it can feel on the outside. Through the similar colours in both the fire and the silhouetted tent, where two characters are seen together, she links that sense of friendship with feelings of warmth. In comparison, we can only see ourselves as either the girl sitting awake and alone, or even the sleeping body, with no tent at all. While no story is explicitly shown, Hawk leads us to various conclusions through these compositional choices and reminds us how intense girlhood can be.
Genevieve Cohn, the fourth and final artist in Story Time, takes a more hopeful approach to the narratives around human connection and community. In the Presence of Patience uses warm colours and gentle figures to show a world of female community and harmony. In contrast to the other artists’ red-skinned figures, Cohn’s three women all share the same hue and intensity of skin, and their arms and hands can be seen reaching towards both the contrasting green flowers, but also one another. Referencing communities such as female separatist groups, the Women’s Land Army, and fairy tales, Cohn uses the motif of rural community and agricultural work to symbolise female togetherness, resilience, and creativity.
Despite the differences in these women’s artistic practices, their artworks, both individually and collectively, tell stories of loneliness, community, and the experience of being a woman. The variation in size, format, and colour palette creates an exhibition that is cohesive and allows for a shared narrative to be formed, while respecting the individuality of each artist’s personal experiences and stories.
Story Time will be on display at RHODES 7th - 29th March 2025, with a Private View held on Thursday 6th March, 6-8pm. RSVP to join us for this special evening.
For more information on the artists and artworks, please email info@rhodescontemporaryart.com
