Jess Allen's We Want to Believe in Impossible Things marks her highly anticipated return to Unit Contemporary gallery with a powerful second solo exhibition. In this enigmatic new series, Allen offers her most intimate exploration of shadow figures to date, setting them against richly textured fabric backdrops that merge art historical references with bold, contemporary colour schemes.
The works resist simple interpretations, instead inviting the viewer into a personal, reflective engagement with their complex visual language.
At the heart of Allen’s work are the distorted, exaggerated poses of her shadow figures, which are shaped by the play of rakish sunlight over uneven surfaces. This interplay explores the silent yet profound communication of body language, how gesture and posture can instantly convey deep emotional states.
Through the recurring motif of the shadow figure, Allen experiments with self-portraiture in an innovative way, treating the silhouette not as a reflection of the self, but as a distinct “other” that speaks to the complexity of identity.
Allen’s shadows are not merely passive forms; they delve into the darker, often hidden aspects of the self, our vulnerabilities, imperfections, and flaws. In doing so, her paintings promote an acceptance of these traits, celebrating imperfection as an essential aspect of our shared humanity. This ethos is underscored by the exhibition’s feminist undercurrent, which challenges traditional ideals of female representation tied to polish or perfection, offering instead a celebration of the real, unvarnished self.
Though Allen’s figures are distinctly feminine, they transcend individual autobiography, becoming archetypal symbols of creativity, strength, and the nurturing forces inherent in womanhood. Her work resists the sexualization of the female form, instead positioning it as a vessel of empathy and resilience.
The exhibition’s title, We Want to Believe in Impossible Things, speaks to our collective longing for idealised lives and unattainable dreams. Yet, in Allen’s world, this yearning is tempered by a quiet acceptance of reality,finding beauty in our flaws and embracing imperfection as truth. Through these paintings, Allen invites us into a visual meditation on what it means to be seen, to feel, and to truly accept ourselves as we are.
