Aphelion

Solo Show
January 2024
Blackfish Gallery
Portland, Oregon

In her debut solo exhibition, Aphelion, Hannah Theiss delves into the psychological awakening after a lifetime of fragmenting the essence for safety, acceptance, and affection. The title, borrowed from astronomy, signifies the farthest point in an orbit—an intense darkness that simultaneously marks a realization and a shift. It is a reckoning, an acceptance, and the nascent phase of returning to a once-abandoned self.

This body of work unboxes the compartmentalized self and exposes the complete sacrifice of identity and the haunting awareness of not knowing oneself. Through exploration of distortion, texture, layering, and perception, these pieces capture the physical sensations of trauma and dissociation. They invite you to witness and experience the raw unfolding of emotions and the intricate process of reassembly.

Aphelion transcends the individual narrative, reaching into the collective experience of humanity. It is an exploration of the shadows cast by suffering and the nuanced beauty that emerges as we navigate the darkest corners of our existence. It beckons you to peer into the darkest corners of selfhood, to confront the multifaceted layers of inescapable pain, and to partake in the courageous act of reclaiming one’s essence.