Edited Reality explores the notion that an objective sense of reality is inherently flawed. Drawing on the visual language of graffiti, her pastels on paper depict the layered, fading and deteriorating remnants of street art to capture a visual narrative of transient interactions. Inspired by the blurred boundaries between public and private realms, Hulme uses the physical residue of street culture to represent the merging of personal and shared experiences. Her images reveal how individual perceptions and internal narratives intertwine with external influences, suggesting that reality itself is dependent upon observation. Each of us, she implies, edits our own reality, shaped by subjective bias.
In her latest solo exhibition, Edited Reality, Amber-rose Hulme delves into the intricate relationship between perception and reality, challenging the very notion of an objective world. Hulme suggests that reality is not static but a dynamic construct, shaped by the interplay between personal biases, internal thoughts, and external dialogues. This exhibition becomes a visual exploration of how these forces continuously edit and redefine our subjective experiences.
Graffiti, central to this collection, serves as a powerful metaphor for the layered conversations we navigate daily. Its transient nature mirrors the impermanence and fluidity of our thoughts and the external voices that influence us. Over time, graffiti fades, decays, and overlaps, forming a visual tapestry that reflects the complex amalgamation of internal and external messages we absorb. Hulme's intricate pastel renderings capture this interplay, highlighting how these influences can affirm or distort our sense of self until the boundary between our own thoughts and external voices becomes blurred.
A notable shift in Hulme's work within Edited Reality is the focused emphasis on the ground in her urban landscapes. This visual anchor symbolizes a sense of being "stuck" — trapped in mental loops fostered by the weight of persistent, often critical, external voices. The ground's texture and presence evoke the insidious nature of these influences, illustrating how they can root us in flawed perceptions, obscuring clearer paths forward. Yet, through the deep perspectives in her compositions, Hulme suggests both a sense of entrapment and the potential for movement beyond these mental constraints.
Drawing inspiration from the lyric, “Listen here, I’m the voice in your head. I can say the words that make you feel scared” from Eden's song Falling in Reverse, Hulme confronts the unsettling power of language—how internalized words and narratives can shape, and sometimes distort, our perception of reality. Yet, the song also offers a hopeful counterpoint: “Don’t let the monster in your head become your fears, 'Cause you can save yourself.” This duality is reflected in Hulme’s work, where dark, layered compositions are balanced by open pathways leading into the unknown—a symbol of empowerment and the potential to reclaim and reshape our mental landscapes.
Hulme’s choice of pastel on paper adds another layer of depth to her exploration. Traditionally associated with softness and delicacy, pastels become tools of resilience in Hulme’s hands. The tactile engagement with dry pigment mirrors the gritty, textured surfaces of urban walls. This material connection grounds the work in the physicality of street culture while simultaneously evoking the lasting imprint external voices leave on our mental terrain. The artist's deliberate, vigorous application of pastel reflects the persistence of these influences, yet also suggests the potential for transformation through conscious creation.
Edited Reality is a profound meditation on perception, influence, and agency. Amber-rose Hulme masterfully captures the tension between being confined by internalized narratives and the possibility of breaking free. Through her detailed, immersive pastel works, she not only presents the layered complexity of Melbourne's graffiti-laden laneways but also invites viewers to examine and reclaim their own edited realities.
