ESSSENSSSE

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) is pleased to present ESSSENSSSE, a joyful work about healing and new beginnings by acclaimed contemporary artist HOSSEI (NSW). Originally commissioned and presented by Verge Gallery at the University of Sydney, ESSSENSSSE is an aquatic ecosystem that explores the tenacity of the human spirit, stripping away corporeal human qualities and revealing what’s underneath, which transitions from a large installation into a performance featuring a cast of 16 otherworldly sea creatures. ESSSENSSSE began when HOSSEI became fascinated by the sand dollar sea creatures— their shape, features, and how in mediaeval times it was truly believed that sand dollars were mermaid currency. When looking at the sand dollar, HOSSEI realised that if you were to remove the physical characteristics of a human body, you would be left with a mouth and an anus, just like the sand dollar. It is this idea that compelled HOSSEI to make the sand dollar an emblem of the show. An entry point and an exit, not just with food, but in the sense of discerning which energies come through and nourish the insides, and which are let out. ESSSENSSSE is about letting go and being one with the spirit, and embracing its purity and vulnerability. Accompanying ESSSENSSSE is a public program including performance, talks, and workshops. A Verge Gallery exhibition, touring in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, supported by the University of Sydney and proudly funded by the NSW Government. Verge Gallery is supported by the University of Sydney Union.