Blackdot Gallery redefines the art of unity at London Design Festival 2023 with ‘Dot to Dot'

Blackdot Gallery has a unique and conceptual approach to promoting self-expression through art and adornment. At the ongoing, 21st edition of the London Design Festival, the contemporary art gallery, renowned for hosting pop-up events and curating immersive experiences, is presenting Dot to Dot, from September 16- 24, 2023. The exhibiting artists at the design fair visually interpret connotations of a 'dot' as an aesthetic celebration of connectivity and unity, a rare and ironic find in our complex, contemporary reality, 'as an artistic journey into the beauty of connectivity.' Examples of this complexity include conceptions of boundaries, order-disorder, gaze, dark matter, mathematical formats, the encompassing potential of a dot, and its ubiquitous yet specific functionality, which is congruent to human sameness and differences.

"The art world is about to witness a revolutionary exploration of connectivity at the Dot to Dot exhibition, curated with passion and vision by Blackdot Gallery. This immersive exhibition brings together a stellar lineup of artists, each with their unique take on the theme of unity through dots," mentions the press statement from the contemporary art gallery.

Gene Chen, a Taiwanese artist living in London, presents a series of eight photographs that capture the organised chaos of Taipei, the photographer's place of birth. The images on display at the art exhibition capture the essence of disorder trite to the city's urban landscape, contradictory to the socio-cultural tendency of Taiwanese people to willingly adhere to order. Chen's works probe thinking into gestalt principles, our default mode of perception, and thereby, the tendency to imagine order, by connecting dots.

A common feature of the artists interpreting dots at the ongoing design event in London, UK, is its intangible aspect and potential for connectivity. For instance, graphic artist Kyubin Hur explores the intangible nature of communication, or as coined by Hur, 'Cupmmunication'—a visual conceptualisation of language and logic. Hur presents cups that symbolise the source of speech and sound, such as mouths and ears, and signify the individuality and personal connections inherent in oral communication, while threads act as lines of connection, representing the interplay and exchanges between communicators.

Pixels, too, are an intangible and digital interpretation of dots, a medium used by artist Lindsay Yin to navigate the blurring borders between reality and virtual reality, as a factor of our growing ignorance toward environmental threats. Digital technologies are also implemented in the works of Yiling Wu, who employs diverse and innovative techniques to combine various materials, digital embroidery skills, and hand-beading methods, to craft a distinctive style of embroidery, inspiring us to explore various patterns in which dots can be connected, or stitched. Each embroidery pattern bears individuality and intricacy, similar to that of humans.

Yi Jiun Hung presents a series of anthropomorphised and portable objects made of biological materials, contradicting the definition of non-living materiality, especially since the object of art amplifies a unique persona. On the flip side of anthropological and biological advancements, Mudai, a ceramic artist, presents "Interspecies Conversations," a representation of chimeric bio experiments to signify the inferior status that humans assign to other species.

Jewellery artist Yiwen Zhang's presentation follows a similar trail through a series of brooches personifying the objects' multifaceted nature, citing inspiration from Edvard Munch's oil paintings which depicted the negative aspects of people's lives and psychological states in the late 19th century. Other exhibiting artists include Sara Chyan and Seven—the latter assigns colour to different phases of life and invites the audience to delve into their experience and find connections through different shades of life.

The Dot to Dot exhibition at London Design Festival 2023 invites a curiosity for design thinking, with a personification of objects as an artistic medium to interpret the minuscule imperative of our anthropological and structural thinking. The art and design exhibition offers a vital exploration of the connotations of 'dots,' presented abstractly in various art forms, emphasising our interconnectedness and the complexities of the modern world, while 'challenging conventional perceptions of art.'

"Dot to Dot is a celebration of the beauty of connection in a world characterised by complexity and rapid change. It invites viewers to pause and contemplate the significance of these dots—the fragments that come together to create meaning and beauty, like pixels forming images on our screens or individual moments shaping our existence. These dots represent the threads of life's intricate tapestry, waiting to be woven into the story of our world," they elaborate.

The ‘Dot to Dot’ exhibition is on view from September 16 – 24, 2023, at the Blackdot Gallery, Canal View Space, 261A City Road, Hoxton, London EC1V 1AH, UK.

London Design Festival is back! In its 21st edition, the faceted fair adorns London with installations, exhibitions, and talks from major design districts including Shoreditch Design Triangle, Greenwich Peninsula, Brompton, Design London, Clerkenwell Design Trail, Mayfair, Bankside, King's Cross, and more. Click here to explore STIR’s highlights from the London Design Festival 2023.