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That Which Binds Us

Saturday, November 9, 2024Monday, May 12, 2025

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Seymour H. Knox Building
M&T Bank Gallery


With fabric, weaving, embroidery, and other related materials, the fifteen artists in That Which Binds Us reflect on what connects us and the experiences we share. This exhibition gestures towards a world in which practices that were once the province of domestic labor, women, and leisure pastimes eclipse our desire for digital experiences. Instead, contemporary life is brought to the forefront in a rich tapestry of tradition, identity, history, and culture.

While some of the artists in That Which Binds Us manifest a personal connection to the medium, others consider themes that can provoke challenging conversations about the world around us. With artists from places as far-flung as Japan, Mexico, and Denmark, to Lynchburg, Virginia, and Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, there are many stories to be discovered in these works and even more to be learned in exploring the personal and social circumstances that have conditioned them. The ways these artists unconventionally employ the handmade, crafted, and upcycled serve as meditations on memory and the complexity of human relationships. These works address the question:

How do we carry experiences with us and hand them down through material culture?
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Britta Marakatt-Labba (Swedish, born 1951). Finished drilled / Borejuvvun válmmas, 2021. Embroidery and applique in white frame with art glass. 12 3/4 x 68 1/4 inches (32.4 x 173.4 cm). George B. and Jenny R. Mathews Fund, 2023 (2023:252). 


Featuring art by Ryoko Aoki, Kevin Beasley, Pia Camil, Aiko Hachisuka, Sergei Jensen, Ann Greene Kelly, Gabriel Kuri, Charles LeDray, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Joiri Minaya, Jordan Nassar, Rose B. Simpson, Meredyth Sparks, Eduardo Terrazas, and Benji Whalen, That Which Binds Us is drawn entirely from recently acquired works of art in the museum’s collection.

The Buffalo AKG has an active acquisitions program through which it continually grows the collection, seeking out works of art representing the most influential voices of twenty-first century contemporary art. While these acquisitions will often find their way into the permanent collection galleries or special exhibitions, the museum’s goal is also to find ways to highlight them through thematic, spotlight presentations.

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum 

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Installation view of That Which Binds Us. Photo: Brenda Bieger, Buffalo AKG Art Museum


This exhibition is curated by Holly E. Hughes, Godin-Spaulding Senior Curator for the Collection.



Accessibility 

The M&T Bank Gallery is located on the lower level of the Knox Building and can be accessed via the Accessibility Pathway under the Auditorium. The closest restrooms are on the first floor of the Knox Building in the same hallway as the Moog Inc. Visitor Services Desk.