DIRTY TEDDY GALLERY Examines the Fragility of Reality In ‘There’s a Strange Looking Man at My Door’

Summary

DIRTY TEDDY GALLERY’s Hong Kong exhibition explores psychological collapse and irrationality
Natural materials are crucial in shaping the exhibition’s unsettling breakdown of perception and emotional control
The exhibition runs until May 11 at otherthings by THE SHOPHOUSE

DIRTY TEDDY GALLERY presents There’s a Strange Looking Man at My Door, their first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. Hosted by THE SHOPHOUSE at its otherthings space. The exhibition examines psychological collapse, exploring the disconnection from reality and the irrationality that arises despite intelligence. Drawing inspiration from Michel Foucault’s theories on madness, the works reshape familiar forms into surreal, fragmented structures that blur the boundary between perception and illusion.

Through artwear, masks and soft sculptures, the exhibition visualizes the unsettling breakdown of perception and emotional control. Natural materials such as wool, cotton and pearl shell play a crucial role in shaping this narrative. For instance, wool, often associated with warmth and comfort, is manipulated into exaggerated forms that evoke a sense of unease, reflecting psychological instability.

Historical perceptions of psychological distress are also woven into the exhibition’s themes. In early societies, these struggles were often attributed to supernatural forces, leading to exclusion and persecution. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, emotional and cognitive disturbances were frequently mistaken for demonic possession, prompting extreme responses like witch hunts and isolation. The exhibition highlights these historical misconceptions, connecting them to contemporary views on mental health.

DIRTY TEDDY GALLERY’s There’s a Strange Looking Man at My Door is currently on view at otherthings until May 11.

otherthings by THE SHOPHOUSE
31 Sun Chun Street, Tai Hang
Hong Kong