And this skin of mine, to live again a second time
‘And this skin of mine, to live again a second time’ contemplates the multiple possibilities and avenues of ‘rebirth’ in our current day and age. Within our unique perspectives as artists navigating through life.
Guts Gallery is pleased to present a new group exhibition in late Spring 2022, the first group show in our new permanent HQ in London.
‘And this skin of mine, to live again a second time’ contemplates the multiple possibilities and avenues of ‘rebirth’ in our current day and age. Within our unique perspectives as artists navigating through life. Rebirth seemed to encapsulate so many components of a newly fractured existence, post-pandemic. We witnessed a rebirth of our climate and symbiotic ecosystems, our environments - the constructed and the naturalised, our communities, our club culture, our faith, our political views, our fate, our mortality and our resistance.
In some ways, these rebirths were also resistances/reactions to the prior structures. With this at the core of our discussions, we invited poet James Massiah to compose a text in response to these themes surrounding 'rebirth'. We wanted the works and the artists themselves in the exhibition to be in reaction to the words and emotions in James’ text. The text forms the roots, so to speak of the entire exhibition. We then offered this text to exhibiting artists to respond to.
Featuring new sculptural and painting works by international and London based artists, ‘And this skin of mine to live again a second time’ hopes to delve further into the capability or necessity to be constantly reborn / rebirthing.
Shadi Al-Atallah
Alvaro Barrington
Jess Beige Kim
Nicole Coson
Harminder Judge
Kemi Onabule
Lydia Pettit
Alexis Ralaivao
Nana Wolke
Emanuel de Carvalho
Larissa de Jesús Negrón
Mussel Shell by James Massiah
"...and then I just come out the water"
it's dripping
running in my eye
but I can see
just like before
I feel like me
Always was but now I are
I feel the salt
in all my scars
and know my skin will start again
I'm coming up like out a well
sky above and
world below
water-tomb
and mussel shell
to the surface touching air
ocean born
and worldly now
sure that I will err again
but free from shame
to learn to swim
out the pool
and free to sin
out the belly
out the slime
out inside
a sacred nine
anew
me
and this skin of mine
to live again
a second time
James Massiah is a poet & musician from South London, UK whose work explores ideas about sexuality, mortality & philosophy through performance, writing & visual media. His ongoing series of New Poems is released in volumes and details his day-to-day experiences of life, love and labour in London. He has been commissioned to produce work for the BBC, The Guardian & Nike as well as featuring in campaigns for Selfridges, Loewe, Adidas & Champion. He has performed readings of his work at the Tate Modern, the Courtauld, the Institute of Contemporary Arts & the Houses of Parliament & been profiled in Vogue, Dazed, i-D & GQ. He has also curated events for Boiler Room & hosts the monthly ‘Poætry Show’ on NTS Radio.