LUMEN.

White Rabbit Gallery

March – August 2021

From the glow which illuminates, to the glare that obscures, our understanding of the world is defined by light: what it shows us, and more importantly, what it does not. Delving beneath the surface of the visible, Lumen ventures into the darkness, revealing the objects and ideas that exist outside our line of vision. Because artists, more than most, know that mystery and insight lie in the transition of shadows.

Whereas painters once put brush to canvas to suggest illumination, today’s artists have been empowered by multi-media and technology. Can a machine unleash a crack of lightning to reflect your current mood? Can a levitating geode be the link between our physical and digital worlds? The artists in Lumen certainly think so. Giving form to the abstract and sculpting the ephemeral, they use an impressive array of media to explore the invisible networks and emotional frailties that shape the human experience.

At a time that could easily be defined by darkness, the artists in Lumen look to the light; be it blinding, illuminating or simply a perplexing trick of the eye, they offer us wisdom, beauty, and an enduring sense of optimism.

Lumen, drawn from Judith Neilson’s renowned White Rabbit Collection of Chinese contemporary art, is the White Rabbit Gallery’s 23rd exhibition.