Lethbridge artist and University of Lethbridge instructor Corinne Thiessen Hepher examines the grotesque and a darkest parts of her soul in her Masters exhibit Invisible Debilitation Explosive restraint in.valid.
She has been working on her Masters thesis exhibition for her MFA for the past two years. It has grown from an examination of the grotesque to much more.
“In two years, we’ve gone from looking at a hybrid of human and animals to machines and animals and started looking at power structures, fears, nerves and social systems and social structures,” she described.
The exhibit includes several different pieces including cartoonish, life sized cardboard cutouts which seem to be equally inspired by Monty Python animator and Pink Floyd‘s “The Wall.”
“ All of these characters are people I actually know, but I changed and disguised their appearances,” she said.
“They’re friends, family or rivals, people with whom there has been conflict,” she continued.
There are also a series of multi-media pieces.”
“I have videos where people I know have their mouths pried open and restrained by headgear based on dental head gear,” she described adding she built the gear out of old bras, tongue depressors and other items.
“I did a lot of research into torture and restraint,” she said.
There are also a couple of kinetic sculptures including a motorized horse and a pair of vacuum cleaners mating.
“It’s all about the grotesque. It’s about conflict in interpersonal relationships,” she summarized.
The exhibit opens at the Dr. Penny Foster building downtown, on Saturday, Sept. 14 with a reception from 7-10 p.m.
It closes Sept. 28 with another reception also beginning at 7 p.m., which will end up the Arts Days Gallery hop.
