Birch’s paintings examine the unseen forces that shape aural and tactile perception. One of her main investigations is around sound, where elements like the ear’s cochlea (which processes vibrations) and the lateral line (an animal hearing sensor) inspire her works. Her layered paintings are made through tactile marks, using time as a medium for transformation.
Youn’s kinetic sculptures confront the tension between pleasure and discomfort, using devices like massagers to examine the relation of function and desire. Their works use artificial flowers to explore controlled beauty and apply mechanised touch to perform a labour of artificial ‘human-ness.’
Figures of Speech provides a framework for exploring how ‘language’, whether through vibration or pigment, can reveal more than it signals.
