Exploring the Human Condition

A Solo Exhibit of Artwork by Hib Sabin

This September Stonington Gallery presents Exploring the Human Condition, a solo exhibit of Hib Sabin’s latest works. Throughout his artistic career, Sabin has entwined his cerebral explorations through literature, history, politics, and his time as a shamanic practitioner with his carving practice. He has also long had a connection with animals and their symbolism as spirit figures and guides. The raven has been of particular interest to Sabin. The raven is a metamorphic figure seen as a creature that straddles the line of trickster and teacher, good and evil. Sabin embraces this in his sculpture by frequently tapping into the transformative nature of the raven to represent specific people or humanity in the modern day. 

This exhibition analyzes the relationships people have with each other and the overall state of humanity. Sabin touches on themes of connectedness, mortality, and everyday hurdles while confronting us with questions and cautions of what our future could be.

Exploring the Human Condition uses ravens and owls as stand-ins for humans in our modern society coming to terms with their humanity, mortality, and finding their place amongst their peers. In the sculpture carved from juniper wood “Birds of a Feather Flock Together,” Sabin is commenting on the idea that people tend to find the most comfort amongst those who are similar to ourselves. However, he’s encouraging us to explore if this is how it should be, or if we should be making more of an effort to reach across the table and purposefully seek out those unlike ourselves. Would doing this create more empathy and understanding in our lives? Especially in today’s tumultuous socioeconomic climate and deeply divided political landscape, what could this look like? In Sabin’s sculpture “Oh What a Lovely Time We’re Having – Let’s Pretend That There Will Be No Tomorrow” the sentiment is very similar. He asks the viewer if forgetting about the future is in our best interest. He wants the viewer to ask themselves what are they doing today to make for a better world tomorrow.

Exhibition Dates: