Using a stripped back site as a way to explore the idea of place and conversely, non-place. Sites like this are often liminal spaces, which means that they are in-between places. They are not fully public or fully private, not fully built or fully natural. This liminality creates a sense of disorientation and alienation, which is used as a point of departure for exploring the complex and often contradictory ways in which we experience space, and to consider the ways in which place can be shaped by our personal and collective memories and culture. The works will navigate themes of temporality, mortality, and the relationship between the individuals and the spaces they inhabit, as well as the ways in which place can be shaped by memory, history, and mythology.

With artworks tailored for the exhibition, The Brink encompasses both the ground floor and garage of the Ugly Duck exhibition space, featuring: Abigail Norris, Alex Young, Anna Blom, Elena Shkvarkina, Ge Hui, Ivan Seal, Jo Dennis, Katrin Spranger, Nicola Hicks MBE, Pía Ortuño, Ross Taylor, Tom Woolner, Xu Haoyang, Zhang Guangyu, ZITA.

Special guest KV Duong will perform Katrin Spranger’s 1.8, an evocative environmental statement, in collaboration with costume designer ZITA. In addition to the exhibition, the special screening program led by Linlin Zhu will showcase a range of mid and short films, including documentary films directed by Pietro Francesco Pingitore and Siyi Gu, experimental shorts created by Laura Puig and Chengzhou, and an animation by Elmano Diogo. These films delve into themes of healing through art, spiritual exchange with nature, and the potential for resurrection amidst ruins. The documentaries spotlight animal life trapped within artificial ecosystems. Experimental shorts incorporate the human psyche into wildlife medium of trees and goldfish, while the animation guides the audience towards healing psychological trauma.