Wander into New York’s Europa, and you’ll encounter a spectral cast devoid of characters. Pale green gowns with ruffled hems, long sleeves, and empire waists haunt the gallery as they hunch and lean as if enlivened by an invisible force. Unsettling and intriguing, the translucent works wouldn’t be out of place in a ghostly horror film and are on view for Brandon Morris’s solo show, Actress.
Born in San Diego and based in New York, Morris is trained in dressmaking, which he applies to fiberglass for this body of work. Using an industrial sewing machine and mannequins, Morris sewed garments based on vintage children’s gowns from the Victorian era. Resin stiffens the clothing and allows each piece to retain its distinctive, upright shape.
A statement about the exhibition shares that the hollow forms offer space to hold our fears and anxieties. Redolent of the supernatural mystery The Ring from 2002—itself adapted from the 1998 Japanese film Ringu—the uncanny dresses are unnerving because their gestures and poses are so similar to reality. As they float in the gallery, the garments’ curved backs and crooked shoulders are out of kilter and offer an air of discomfort.
As with the conventions of the horror genre, Morris’ works are unnerving in part because they leave us with questions: Who wore the garments, and where have they gone? Who, or what, left the dresses in this state? And, perhaps most timely, what insidious forces are hidden in plain sight?
Actress continues through February 9. Find more from Morris on Instagram.
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