British artist Anne Hardy presents her sixth solo exhibition at Maureen Paley, London, with a group of floor and wall structures. Hardy’s work, begun during her residency at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, is a reflection on the notion of materiality.

Bringing together natural elements such as earth, rock and tones reminiscent of weathered deserts and archaeological sites, Hardy transports the tranquility of natural landscapes into the heart of the unforgiving metropolis, prompting reflection on the stark contrast between nature’s peaceful calm—our inherent connection to the earth—and the relentless fervor of urban life, where dominant values often mask our true identities and societal roles.

Anne explains that the creations in Survival Spell originate from materials found in unstable and shifting terrains that often escape our notice. These include ‘pockets of wild space’ within the city, neglected areas between roads, and the peripheries of constructed spaces she discovered in the remote landscapes of west Texas during her residency at the Chinati Foundation. These places also bear subtle marks of human presence, ephemeral and easily overlooked. To her, these spaces represent freedom, unburdened by expectations, where anything is possible. Anne sees a transformative potential in these locations and their materials.

The Being (Interloper) work, where “interloper” means a person who finds himself drawn into a place or situation where he is unwanted or considered not to belong, shows the fine line between where we are and what we contribute to the world. What we are chasing is just a false image to be accepted by society, but in the end, all material things remain but no trace of oneself. Then the question is asked that we, as humanity, are trying to satisfy our material needs of existence, and subsequently, we lose ourselves and behind all this, there is nothing, no figure or face, as Hardy shows in this work. As a result, we are left with nothing and this material no longer carries any essence.

Being (Interloper), 2022 – 24 artist’s clothes, tin cans crushed by trucks outside the studio, welded steel, cast pewter, cast jesmonite, jewellery, earth, wood, wire

The Being (Immaterial) continues to explore the sense of natural origin and becoming material – the combination of the spiritual and the physical, where they disintegrate into fragmented but recognizable bodies that sit or kneel directly on the floor, rooted in the earth.

Anne Hardy Being (Immaterial), 2023–2024 artists clothes, rusted wire, shells, welded steel, jesmonite, jewellery, cast concrete, bronze, pewter, white metal, dried plant, earth

In this exhibition, Hardy awakens consciousness and makes us think about how we can live in tandem with nature or simply survive in society? As children of nature, we must remember that we have roots – albeit invisible – where we imprint our spirituality and sow the seeds to develop consciousness and balance. It is crucial to develop them, and not to succumb to destruction and the pursuit of material wealth, which ultimately turns out to be fruitless. – words by K.K.

Anne Hardy Energy Locator 2023–24; found materials, stones, welded steel, light, custom-designed computer system for light source that responds to Marfa meteorological data
Anne Hardy Survival Spell, 2022–2024 found materials, earth, cast pewter, Chinati rocks
Anne Hardy Solar Tank, 2023–24 found materials, aluminum, glass, paint, rusted wire, rust, light, steel, copper
Anne Hardy Seedbed (Gathering) found materials, wire screen, rusted steel, seeds, cast pewter, wire, glass, aluminium and light
Anne Hardy Lure (wand), 2023–24 found materials, rusted metal, cast and polished pewter

ANNE HARDY Survival Spell at Maureen Paley, London and Studio M, London;

Images © AnneHardy, courtesy Maureen Paley, LondonPhoto: Angus Mill