Matt Hope Solo Exhibition
Defying Acoustic Conventions
London-born, Guangzhou-based artist Matt Hope brings his visionary solo exhibition, "EAR, To Hear with Your Eyes," to our curated space at of gaaarden. Defying the traditional notion that speakers should be hidden within smooth, aesthetically pleasing boxes, Hope boldly asserts that they should be seen. We are excited to showcase his six-month exploration into what he terms "flat panel speakers." This exhibition transforms our gallery into a space where the boundaries between acoustic engineering and visual art are completely dismantled, inviting visitors to experience sound through a raw, unpolished, and highly mechanical lens.
The Aesthetics of Technical Sculptures
The core of this exhibition revolves around these unique speakers, presented as miniature technical sculptures. Rather than concealing their inner workings, Hope utilizes raw, unedged industrial materials like carbon fiber and metal honeycomb foam—materials typically reserved for aerospace or high-speed rail applications. Through his masterful assembly, these components mimic lunar surfaces, honeycombs, and deep-sea coral reefs. We equipped each piece with a custom acoustic spring base, allowing them to rest openly and peacefully on any surface. By bringing these disparate industrial parts together, we highlight the artist's challenge to the complex relationship between technology, the creator, and the user.
A Glimpse into an Artist's Utopia
Adding a layer of historical reverence, these post-industrial, organic creations are named after master artists, serving as a conceptual look back through art history. Alongside the speakers, we also present Hope's broader acoustic-related paintings and installations. From a device at the entrance that lets you listen to the sun scream, to large acoustic arc fragments and intricate ear canal spray paintings, these works form the creative matrix that birthed the flat panel speakers. By bringing his inventive laboratory ethos into of gaaarden, we offer visitors a rare opportunity to pause and step into the artist's inner utopian workshop, where utility and avant-garde aesthetic experimentation perfectly align.
