Emerging Scottish Artist, Eva Hewitt invites you to encounter her original solo exhibition; "Trapeze".

The work exhibited in this show is new, original and has never been viewed by a public audience.

Eva is nearing the end of her 4th year of study on the BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting and Printmaking course at the Glasgow School of Art.

Hewitt’s artwork unpacks the correlation between the earthly and the ethereal. Her compositions flourish within different contexts. In this instance, they reach the very surreal heart of the circus tent and simultaneously, the even more otherworldly territory of Heaven itself. Using a plethora of materials, her work aims to express transcendental beauty and experience in a style authentic to herself as the artist, but equally relatable to an audience.

This show aims to present the viewer with a surreal yet beautiful experience. Here, she captures the connection between the worldly and the heavenly with a focus on the circus performer and more specifically, the trapeze swinger - a death-defying yet seemingly calm figure designed to be gazed at by a captivated audience. Such an explanation could also be assigned to a figure as elevated as Christ Himself. On this line of thought, Hewitt also considered and furthered this connection between Him as a man who was considered a “freak”, gawked at, and hung from the great height of the Cross during the Crucifixion. This also links to the historical concept of the circus “freak”. She considered the sacrificial nature of putting one’s life in the hands of another (something at the very root of the great flying trapeze act) and challenges our human perception and visualisation of a historical Christ by placing Him among the acrobats and tightrope walkers of the contemporary world.

Inspired by the masters of both music and fine art, namely Gregory Alan Isakov and Salvador Dali, Hewitt uses her own mind to translate text to image and to continue the unusual conversation between the Crucifixion and the carnivalesque. The heavily visual collection of work exhibited presents unusual compositions and unique conceptual perspectives inspired by the placement of the historical religious figure within a contemporary setting and context.

Hewitt reflected on the final message she wishes to share with her audience;

“The turbulent nature of life so often feels like a circus, tossing us from one act to the next in a matter of seconds. However, "Trapeze" invites you to look up, to think deeply, and to bask in the excitement of my first ever solo art exhibition. Perhaps the question we consider regards the place of ethereality within the very earthly world. In such moments of adversity that we share, how often do we gaze upwards towards ethereal beauty rather than seeking out earthly escapism?”

Finally, Eva would like to offer sincere thanks to her family who have supported her throughout the demands of her art school journey, and of life. Eva’s mentor and gifted illustrator, William Stewart has always encouraged her to think creatively, authentically and confidently about her art practice. Amazingly, former trapeze swinger and circus artist, Juliette Watkins allowed Hewitt to interview her during the research of this project. Watkins’ knowledge was so unique, impressive and appropriate during this research period. Finally, Eva would like to thank her academic tutor, Craig Mulholland, whose guidance and knowledge has been of such great value to the artist throughout her final year of study.

Thank you all.

Eva Hewitt is very proud and grateful to have her work exhibited at the Pipe Factory and has truly relished the opportunity to exhibit in the lively heart of Glasgow.