Finding Your Way Through Space

Interstitial Volume, a new exhibit by Seattle artist Henry Jackson-Spieker at MadArt Studio in South Lake Union, will shake up your understanding of space and perception.

Jackson-Spieker’s work explores the physical and philosophical perceptions of space, delving into how personal and cultural factors impact the way we understand and move through the world. Through three site-specific sculptural installations, he modifies how viewers navigate and engage with the MadArt Studio space, creating a collection of works that induce a somatic response and a physical uneasiness.

“I would like the viewers to walk away from the show with a deeper sense of curiosity and skepticism about the spaces they frequent. Interstitial Volume is meant to distort viewers depth perception as well as how they move through MadArt. By disrupting the viewer’s visual perception and then controlling the viewer’s pathways through the space, I talk about power dynamics and the intended use of an environment. I want the viewers to become hyper aware of their bodies within the studio; to question what they are seeing is truly an accurate outlook on their environment or is there something deeper at play,” said Jackson-Spieker.

The artist incorporates applied light, colored thread, and monofilament to create liminal spaces that are visually and somatically disorientating. One installation even activates an area that is otherwise physically inaccessible to the viewer, building into the ceiling’s interior light wells to create an illusory void that visually distorts the physical boundaries of the space.

“Take the time to walk through the space and see everything from multiple angles. Things will disappear or reappear, and seem closer than they actually are,” he added.

By creating visual blind spots and distortions, Jackson-Spieker hopes to create a metaphor for the things we don’t see or question within our everyday surroundings and indirectly poses the question: For what and whom is this space intended?

Be sure to stop by the open studio portion of Interstitial Volume at MadArt Studio where you can view Jackson-Spieker and his team in the midst of creating the final exhibition. Opening night is February 9 and the exhibit will run through April 1. Keep an open mind and be prepared to have your perceptions challenged.