Breathing Underwater

The exhibition by artists Jana Grewe and Lottie Stephens engages with the idiom, “Breathing Underwater", exploring it from physical, psychological and political interpretations through their primary medium of ceramic sculpture, alongside film and poetry. The idiom originally refers to “the capacity to manage stress without being consumed by it”.

The artists approach this theme by examining perception, using both literal and
metaphorical ideas to investigate how the body and mind use water to navigate
resistance and fluidity. In light of global political and environmental crises, the artists question how we, as creators, can respond when oppressive forces feel too overwhelming, almost immobilising.

From a physical standpoint, the imagery of the body moving through water, either resisting or flowing with it, is central. In Grewe’s work, her exploration of resistance is particularly pertinent in the context of Germany’s political tensions. She reflects on how resistance brings people together as a communal force - how can we move collectively and what impact does it have as a unit? In contrast, what momentum of resistance does the individual possess?

Conversely, Stephens imagines an alternate reality, envisioning a life submerged underwater, where the forces and dynamics shift. This retreat from the chaotic, fast-paced world above the surface serves as a way to cope with overwhelming pressures. Her dreamlike depiction of this underwater world invites questions about perception, truth, and distortion—what do we truly see in ourselves, in our environment, or in the media? Can we trust what we are told? Are our reflections genuinely our own, or are they mere projections of the world around us?

Together, these themes open up new possibilities for creating alternate realities, where movement takes on a different form and feeling. The collective motion always has the power to transform its surroundings.