Slivers of Silver Skin

This collaboration between performance artist Hollie Miller and photographer Merrick d’Arcy-Irvine explored the visceral qualities of both of their practices through the tactility of human skin and the texture of the photographic image. The duality of their alchemical processes echoed each other as Miller’s performative body painting was mirrored through d’Arcy-Irvine’s hand-painted photochemical printing.

To celebrate the opening of this exhibition, Miller did a performance in collaboration with musician Craig Scott in dialogue with this body of work, exploring the sonic resonance of glass and silver, the body as sculpture, and the skin as a surface for mark making. This was a collaboration between performance artist Hollie Miller and photographer Merrick d’Arcy-Irvine, curated by Maria Abramenko and Marta Orsola Sironi from March 9th to April 9th, 2023. 

“The vulnerability of Miller’s nakedness was felt through the translucence and fragility of the glass, as the light shifted through it to reveal aspects of hand printing and abstract mark making.”

 – Maria Abramenko, Curator

“The reflective quality of the silver on Miller’s body, as well as the glass on which the images were printed, sought to both challenge the male gaze and act as a protective shield.”

 – Merrick d’Arcy-Irvine, Photographer

“The performance was deeply intense, with Hollie’s devastating presence felt throughout the crowd. An antagonistic relationship was felt between the crowd and the mood was razor focussed on Hollie and Craigs work”

– Nick Collin, Gallerist