Window Dressing XIV: Alexis Hunter
Exhibition dates: Sep 13th - Sep 19th, 2021
BINARY (Who Do You Belong To?) is an exploration of the liminal space between cultures. This solo exhibition features a portion of the artist’s larger ongoing series, BI-NARY. BINARY (Who Do You Belong To?) includes a combination of 2D and 3D works that provide an intimate look into the insecurities of an outsider. Utilizing materials like spray foam, resin, and charcoal, the artist displays two life size soft sculptures of the ab stract figures from her BINARY series and one accompanying large format drawing. Biracial people are often fetishized and looked at as erotic sources of exoticism. Historically, biracial people have been regarded as abominations. In reality, biracial people often feel isolated, embarrassed, and excluded. According to the Maslow hierarchy of needs, belonging is a base level of psychological need. Using social psychology concepts like in group vs out group effects and the basic human psychology of Othering,
BI-NARY (Who Do You Belong To?) challenges the dominant narratives and stereotypes that dictate the biracial social experience. Alexis Hunter’s studio practice uses drawing, sculpture, painting, and performance as a means to explore the classification of Other. Alexis is well acquainted with the role of the Other due to her biracial background. She has checked the “other” box when classifying her race her entire life. Her work highlights the threshold between Black and white cultures she exists in. To give her full self to each piece, Alexis incorporates personal materials and instruments, like her hair, in her paintings and drawings. She employs abstract figuration in typical social scenes to further communicate feelings of tension and unfamiliarity, providing an intimate look into her insecurities as an outsider. Through this vulnerabil-ity, Alexis can better understand herself and her identity. Alexis Hunter was born in Seattle, Washington in 1992. She is a multidisciplinary artist, graduating in 2022 with a BFA in Studio Art from Texas State University. Her minor is in African American Studies. She currently lives and works in Austin, Texas
