Navigating Identity, the Human Body, and Our Space on Earth
Featured artists: Vera Ryklova, Domnick Sorace, and Allyson Keehan
In a globalised world where identities are constantly shifting under the weight of socio-political, environmental, and technological forces, the question of what it means to be human and how identity is constructed has become more complex than ever. In Between Flesh and Reflection, the artists Vera Ryklova, Domnick Sorace, and Allyson Keehan explore these tensions, offering a reflection on the ways in which personal and collective identities are formed, transformed, and sometimes dismantled. Through their works, they navigate the intersection between the body, memory, and the spaces we inhabit, both physically and emotionally.
As societies become more interconnected, our notions of selfhood are increasingly influenced by global narratives. Erving Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) explores the concept of identity as a performance, shaped by societal expectations, where individuals constantly navigate between public and private selves. In the work of Vera Ryklova, this performance of selfhood becomes literal, as her body is used as both a canvas and a battleground for personal and societal tensions. Her work delves into the cultural constructs that shape our identities, particularly as they relate to gender, nationality, and social roles. Ryklova’s practice examines the complex layering of public expectations and private struggles, inviting the viewer to consider not only how these forces affect us individually but also how they contribute to collective identity. Her work connects to the ideas presented in Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble (1990), where identity is not an inherent truth but something that is performatively constructed.
In the context of a globalised world, where borders blur and cultures intermingle, personal and national identities often become unstable. Homi K. Bhabha’s The Location of Culture (1994) suggests that identity is in constant flux, formed through negotiation, displacement, and hybridisation. This resonates with the broader themes in the exhibition, where the artists interrogate the fluidity of identity.
Domnick Sorace’s work, in particular, addresses the fragility of the human body and its intimate connection with the world. His sculptures and installations explore how the body is not just an isolated entity but is extended through objects and environments that carry emotional and historical significance. Sorace’s art can be seen as a poetic meditation on how identity is formed in response to the material world, reflecting the deep emotional and environmental ties that bind us.
Allyson Keehan’s tactile works delve into themes of protection, memory, and resilience. Fabric, a material often associated with intimacy and care, becomes a vehicle for reflecting on how we carry our histories, both personal and collective. Keehan’s installations speak to the ways in which memory is imprinted onto the body and material objects. Her exploration of vulnerability and protection also addresses the trauma that arises from the loss of identity.
The human body, as explored in Between Flesh and Reflection, is not just a physical vessel but a site where identity is negotiated, contested, and, at times, resisted. In a world where we face the daily deconstruction of culture and the human spirit, this exhibition invites reflection on how the body resists the erasure of identity. As we consider the impacts of globalisation, colonialism, and war on identity, we must also confront the role of art as a vehicle for resistance. Artists like Vera Ryklova, Domnick Sorace, and Allyson Keehan use their bodies and materials to resist, reflect, and reimagine what it means to be human in a world that often seeks to deny this very humanity.
This exhibition challenges the viewer to think beyond the personal, to question the collective responsibility we bear in the ongoing transformation of identities, and to reflect on what we risk losing in the process. As the human body becomes a battleground for societal and global forces, Between Flesh and Reflection urges us to engage with the fragility of identity and the imperative to protect the very essence of who we are, as individuals, as communities, and as inhabitants of a shared Earth. Through these works, we are reminded that identity is not just a reflection of ourselves but a mirror of the world we inhabit—a world in desperate need of empathy, understanding, and, above all, preservation.
Galleria Umberto Benappi + Riccardo Pietrantonio, Sansicario Alto, Torino
Dates: 14th – 31st August 2025
Opening Reception: 13th August, 6pm
Location: Galleria Umberto Benappi + Riccardo Pietrantonio, Sansicario Alto, Cesana, Torino, Italy
Selected reviews: Artribune https://www.artribune.com
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