Ashleigh Fisk’s solo exhibition, I Will Live Many Years in This Room, at SET Lewisham’s gallery, is a captivating exploration of history, myth, and folkloric traditions. Collaborating with writer and researcher Gwen Dupré, Fisk brings to life objects infused with queer and collective histories, utilising craft and storytelling traditions.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors are transported into a domestic space that mirrors women’s “ubiquitous experiences of mental and physical confinement as well as comfort and solace.” Furnishings, objects, and stained glass create an anachronistic room where real and imagined lives intertwine. Fisk, a recent graduate of Slade School of Fine Art, focuses on cyclical loops of thinking and making, utilising ceramics to imbue human bodies and beliefs onto clay surfaces throughout time
The exhibition explores the threshold between palpable and imaginative worlds, with a focus on the landscape’s deep memory and history. Objects within the space suggest a human presence despite the absence of visible bodies. Fisk’s work subtly mimics the liminality of a museum space, collapsing time and narratives while highlighting the importance of craft. The quietness and subtlety of the work invite viewers to question its placement in the here and now or in the peripheral corners of time and space
The accompanying poem by Gwen Dupré adds another layer to the experience, reflecting on desire, memory, and the passage of time. The poem beautifully complements Fisk’s artwork, deepening the viewer’s engagement with the themes of the exhibition.
Dupré’s poem not only enhances the thematic richness of the exhibition but also serves to address the feelings of the visitor during quieter days. When the gallery lacks the bustling energy of workshops and gatherings, the space may feel bare and the artwork’s narrative may be unclear. However, in these moments of quiet contemplation, Dupré’s poetic verses act as a guiding light, offering visitors a lyrical lens through which to interpret and connect with Fisk’s visual storytelling
I Will Live Many Years in This Room offers visitors a unique and intriguing experience, inviting them to contemplate the intersections of history, myth, and personal narrative. While the exhibition may benefit from increased visitor engagement and interactive elements, Fisk’s work shines as a testament to the power of storytelling and craft in contemporary art.