Hood : Kim Swanson. APRIL 27th - MAY 14th 2005.

The hood is linked to images of crime and dishonesty, for example the robber who is armed and dangerous; the balaclava is an almost metynomic sign of bad character. But it also suggests a desire for protection. It is not always clear what the hooded face is expressing. Swanson’s portrait of the Hood arises primarily from questions about identity, especially the tensions between the subject and the collective or the group. She is particularly interested in the way people renegotiate the effect of their relationship with established institutions. The work in the gallery will enact the portrait of the hood in different but related ways; stencilled canvas,’ sewn objects and video work.