Revisiting 2023's "SOMA: Reclaiming the Body"

video by Harold Smith and Mallory Edson

Review of SOMA: Reclaiming the Body

Angela Ramirez

SOMA: Reclaiming the Body and Mind brings attention to somatic approaches and invites viewers to reprocess their body and mind to establish meaningful connections in their shared environment. Studios Inc Exhibitions Coordinator, Sam Ventrillo, guides viewers through a journey to help them better understand how our bodies interact with objects in our surroundings and how these encounters form new experiences. Viewers will expect to see a range of multimedia works such as ceramic, bronze, graphite, paints, prints, photography, and video.

The art in SOMA: Reclaiming the Body and Mind exposes you to narratives of healing, depictions of bodily forms, memories, and portrayals of the cycles of life which brilliantly reflect human vulnerability and intimacy. This exhibition uniquely captures how we as humans thrive on connectivity, and the placement of each object allows us to establish an intimate connection with the artwork to form a shared experience. The ambience of the gallery creates an immersive experience for viewers where they are given the space to reprocess their bodily sensations and interpret each artwork from their perspective to view them in another light. As a result, the viewer will find themselves included in the conversation and will be inspired to incorporate their stories into the ongoing narrative.

As an audience member, I found myself gaining a new perspective of the displayed objects as I reflected on my lived experiences in the process. To me, the presence of each artwork relayed to me a comforting message: “in this moment we exist; we are here.”

I was particularly drawn to Surfacing (2019) by Kathy Liao, a former resident at Studios Inc. On the 40 x 36-inch canvas, an outstretched arm reaches towards a figure with its back turned to the viewer as they stand amongst an impressionistic scene. In her work, the artist makes use of a blue-green color scheme, patterns, and repetitions which work together to create a language of its own. I empathized with Liao as a first-generation daughter from an immigrant family myself and reflected on our experiences as people from two distinct cultures who come from immigrant households. I especially admire how Liao translates immigrant influences in her art to speak on relationships.

As an intern at Studios Inc, I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience the exhibition as a work in-progress and after completion. I walked away from the show with a better understanding on how human beings can feel deeply connected with others through somatic experiences and despite our distinct identities, we are universally tied by the urge to be seen, heard, and linked to others.