Melis Agabigum: What Lies Beneath Debuts at Athens Jewelry Week 2018

What Lies Beneath, a collaborative two person jewelry show featuring work by Melis Agabigum (BFA 2013) and Rachel Andrea Davis, recently debuted as one of five group exhibitions at Athens Jewelry Week 2018 in Athens, Greece.

What Lies Beneath explores themes of mourning, processing grief, emotional baggage, loss, and the forward progression found through making. Through their material choices and investment, the works act as an attempt at overcoming hardships of the past. They showcase the vulnerability of sharing and attempts at finding the strength of emotional honesty. Reflecting on the ephemerality of life, Davis’ rich eggshell textures and use of hair comment on the process of mourning a lost love. With pieces such as brooches and lockets, her work shares her loss with the viewer while attempting to keep private moments safe from exposure. These vessels that contain, become a complementary contrast to Agabigum’s work, which explores the opposite facet of lost love – processing the baggage left behind from ended relationships. Her use of non-traditional materials of blender sponges, waxed cotton, and textile techniques in metal also take on forms of vessel-like skeletons and shadows we struggle to overcome. As a mediation between these two artists’ voices, some of the works in this show are collaborative to further discuss forward progression through support, comradery, and making.

Melis Agabigum / Rachel Andrea Davis: What Lies Beneath
Exhibition Dates: May 24 – 26, 2018
Reception: Friday, May 25, 7 – 9 pm
Melanithros Art Space
Zappa 4, 11635 Kallimarmaro, Athina, Greece