Sarah Bowling: Quicksand
May 31 – August 3, 2024
Reception: Friday, May 31, 6 to 8 pm *artist in attendance
RULE Gallery 808 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO
(Denver, CO) RULE Gallery is excited to announce a solo exhibition of new work by Sarah Bowling entitled Quicksand. This will be Bowling’s second solo with the gallery and the first at our Denver location. The artist will attend a public reception on Friday, May 31, from 6 to 8 pm. The exhibition will be on view through August 3, 2024. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11am-5pm, and by appointment.
In her recent series, Quicksand, Sarah Bowling delves into the intricate complexities of the weight of a body, examining the interplay between physicality and emotion. Through this exploration, Bowling contemplates the poetics of a body’s memory, reflecting on the perpetual care and strength needed in bearing the weight of one's physical form and the silent observation of the march of time.
Driven by the human physique's inherent adaptability, Bowling employs a diverse range of mediums in her exhibition from painting to sculpture. Influenced by her personal commitment to bodybuilding, she intricately explores the body's remarkable capacity for resilience and steadfast dedication to preserving its form. Through careful examination of the ever-evolving terrain of flesh and bone, she cultivates a profound appreciation for the dynamic nature of change. Her deliberate use of materials, such as plaster and paint, mimics the organic responses of our bodies to gravity and weight, resulting in a transformative process that mirrors the subtle yet inexorable effects of gravity. This manipulation of materials engenders a poignant visual narrative, wherein altered shapes emerge, reflecting human existence's transient and fragile nature.
Within the works of 'Quicksand,' Bowling uses symbolism to understand how the body reacts to its surroundings, whether it be the embrace of skin, the embrace of clothing, or the embrace of another. She accomplishes this by creating plaster sculptures cast inside fabric molds capturing the essence of softness and security that envelops the being within. Her works vividly depict the subtle nuances of tension, manifested in pinched and wrinkled contours, each telling a visual tale of the subject's journey.
Through the suggestive imagery of clouds, flowers, and voids, Bowling invites viewers to delve into the hidden complexities of the human form. Despite the absence of a physical body, the artworks' portrayal of abject folds, drips, and voids evoke a sense of intimacy that resonates deeply, eliciting a complex amalgamation of discomfort and fascination. This series stands as a testament to the perpetual dichotomies inherent in corporeal existence: the interplay between being embraced and constrained, descending and ascending, autonomous yet interdependent, divulging excessively while simultaneously leaving room for imagination. Above all, it serves as a poignant reminder of the profound joy discovered within the awkwardness of inhabiting a physical form.
Sarah Bowling (b. 1993) is an artist hailing from Denver, Colorado. She earned her MFA from Carnegie Mellon University and her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with a focus on fiber art and sculpture. Her work has been showcased in exhibitions across the nation, including venues such as LVL3 (Chicago, IL), RULE (Marfa, TX & Denver, CO), and The Miller ICA (Pittsburgh, PA). Additionally, Bowling has participated in various prestigious residencies, notably The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Tough Art Residency (Pittsburgh, PA) and a two-year residency at RedLine Contemporary Art Center (Denver, CO). Currently, Bowling works and resides near San Diego, CA.