Space776 is pleased to present Surroundings a group exhibition featuring artwork of diverse mediums, including ceramic sculpture, assemblage, 3-D printing, photographs, oil painting, and textile art, by Dasha Bazanova, Lise Ellingsen, Mary Tooley Parker, Sarah Fuhrman, Zak Vreeland, Chunbum Park, and Ryan Schroeder.

The title Surroundings conceals the importance of the individual self since individuality is always shaped by - and connected to - our relationships and the context of our surroundings. Our surroundings are our containers- the larger nesting doll around us- and artwork is the smaller nesting doll within us. An environment is an ecosystem you are part of; surroundings are the information offered by their location: landmarks and details. Nationality, for example, is a social identity, shaped and defined by artificial boundaries of nation-states and the cultural, political, and historical contexts within them. The architecture of cities and towns embodies the diverse signs and symbols of sociocultural identity, history, politics, religious ideology, and lineages - compare New York City with Tokyo. The clubs, bars, and cafes of NYC are socially negotiated phenomena of norms and etiquette, which differ widely with the norms and etiquette of Tokyo. Surroundings raises questions: Does the environment shape us, or do we also shape the environment with our contributions to the collective dialogue and consciousness? How does the city contain its hidden codes of etiquette, manners, and behaviors that seek to civilize the wild and violent beast within us?

Ryan Schroeder’s oil paintings delve into the psychological interplay between figures and their surroundings, creating realms where reality and perception blur. His work examines how individuals are shaped by the spaces they inhabit and how those spaces, in turn, reflect them.

Mary Tooley Parker’s textile works, crafted with traditional rug-making techniques, evoke a deep connection to the people, places, and things that define collective experiences. Her pieces serve as woven landscapes of memory and identity, exploring how surroundings—both physical and emotional—become integral to our shared and individual stories.

Zak Vreeland’s sculptures, constructed from found metal and plastic objects, are influenced by the environments from which they originate. These works reflect the unique character of their surroundings, and show the interplay between human intervention and the natural evolution of materials, and how these forces shape the spaces we inhabit.

Sarah Fuhrman’s paintings capture the intricacies of contemporary life and its universally shared pitfalls, dreams, and plateaus. Drawing on autobiographical elements, her works construct layered worlds that reflect the pressures and aspirations of our collective consciousness in the contemporary world.

Dasha Bazanova’s ceramic figures transform the barnyard into a microcosm of human experience. Each animal becomes a performer in a theatrical examination of identity and societal roles. Her work captures the humor, vanity, solitude, and companionship that define human interaction, reflecting the intricate ways surroundings shape personal and collective narratives.

Lise Ellingsen’s interactive claw machine uses Norse mythology to depict themes of humanity’s self-destruction and the influence of chance on our surroundings. By allowing visitors to play for 3D-printed sculptures of mythological figures, she creates a space where mythology, modern gaming culture, and the environment intersect, prompting reflection on the choices that shape our shared existence.

Chunbum Park’s self-portrait photographs explore gender identity through the repetition of gendered acts within different surroundings. Influenced by Onnagata in kabuki theater, Park challenges gender binaries and racialized beauty standards, using performance and portraiture to question societal norms and the constructs that define identity.