Megan Canning is an artist from Brooklyn.
Her most recent exhibition “Inside There Is Everything” is a collection of hand embroidered canvases that explore the five senses. They focus on how our senses are processed and the physiology behind these sensory experiences.
Megan explains her work:
“My interest lies in the convergence and overlapping of the scientific and the metaphorical – where the two inform one another and result in a deeper understanding of the human experience. I am interested in the relationship between inside and outside, and what takes place below the “threshold of awareness” – specifically in relationship to the human body and its internal systems, anatomy, organs and then its external form.
“Hand sewing and traditional embroidery techniques have gradually become a key element in the work, for both visual and conceptual reasons. Sewing literally pierces the ‘skin’ of the work, and also becomes a metaphor for the body – the embroidery results in an orderly, clean surface and a messy, chaotic underbelly, just like the skin is a calm exterior that masks the complex inner workings of the human body.
“Through my work, I am attempting to illuminate what is usually hidden beneath the surface – the physical interior of our human bodies and the memories stored within.”
I really like the style of these pieces – they retain that classic educational feel and yet there’s clearly a contemporary twist with them. The cross sectional diagrams of our sensory anatomy show us the mechanics that enable us to comprehend our world – these organs and nerve endings provide us with the context of our experiences, and Megan’s work gives us time and space to consider these processes in a bit more detail.
As part of her MFA thesis, Megan created an installation entitled “There Is A History Here Upon My Skin”. Embroidered pieces mixed with poetry phrasing create an exhibit that explores touch and sensation and the connections that lie within. I’ve spent a bit of time pondering on this particular installation and I like it – it’s a piece that you can get lost in.
Megan’s work can be explored in more detail over at her website. I’m very interested to see what she creates next.
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oh yes, i like these very much!
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