I HAVE ONLY KNOWN GRANDEUR IN RUINS

PRODUCTION DESIGNER AND CURATOR

BY ARTIST ALEXIS OROSA

How do we confront those who violate our bodies? How do we heal? How do we forgive?

I Have Only Known Grandeur In Ruins is a debut exhibition of intimate photographic and short film work that celebrates loss, trauma and overcoming pain.

From the Costa Brava, to the sea-battered cliffs of Siracusa and ancient Corsica; to a shared bedroom in Sydney, we uncover a story of tragedy and love told in photographic and short film work for us to find and re-assemble after being exposed to fire, chemicals andintentional destruction.

Inspired by a shared love of Greek history and mythology, memories of a past relationship intrudeupon the present and future where moments of pain, grief and healing are excavated and remixed.

Just like the Acropolis and its precious statues are in pieces, left for us to restore and piece together, by rearranging the ruins left in these portraits, perhaps we can find a way to confront, heal, forget and perhaps, even forgive.

  • Art by Alexis Orosa

    Production Design and Curation by Paris Burrows
    Special Thanks to Puzzle Gallery and Rewind Lab

    Photographs by Dean Qiulin Li

  • Short Film

    Director and Starring Alexis Orosa