Pierce the Veil at Bolding Gallery

Arthur Poujois, No-mirror Mind-hyper. Multi-layered soundpiece from electromagnetic recordings, field recordings and samples, 2024. Wearing latex suit made by Monique Fei.

By MADELEINE ERICA January 6, 2025

LONDON UK: Bolding Gallery opened its doors for its debut exhibition ‘Pierce the Veil’ on Tuesday 17th December in Mayfair. The evening of performance art attracted a plentiful attendance, all gathered to watch three emerging artists; Enzo Randolfi, Arthur Poujois and Charlie Osbourne. Randolfi’s piece Quidam Secreti Lares part 2 came first, with an energetic and captivating dance work performed on rollerblades which he used to weave in and out of his complex metal sculptures. An experimental composition inspired by Francesco Zappa was the musical accompaniment to Randolfi’s performance. The work set the precedent for the rest of the evening to come.

Arthur Poujois was the second artist of the show with his performance No Mirror Mind-hyper which incorporated two stained glass sculptures used as props to a dance piece behind frosted glass walls, placed in front of a series of mirrors. The multi-layered backing track almost complimented Randolfi’s despite its difference in influence - Poujois looked to Michael Nyman’s ‘M-Work’. Utilising the frosted glass windows pre-existing in the gallery space, atmospheric lights and amplified movements created an air of mystique for the onlookers as the artist moved between degrees of exposure with conspicuous certainty.

Enzo Randolfi, QSL:part2 (ornaments), 2024.

Rounding off the events of the evening was Osbourne’s performance of four songs; I don’t know where my head is from, Veronica Harmonica, do you like my makeup and Stuck in a rut, a show performed with the attendees sat and gathered at the apex of the triangular building. Disrupting the empty curtain-framed stage was a solitude chair in which sat Bennie Gray - the owner of Gray's Antique Market above which the gallery sits - waiting with patient humility. Featuring dramatic green lighting and a music written and sung by Osborne which transcends various genres, the artist mimed, danced and mused with a harmonica as her weapon of communication between herself and her subject, who sat centre-stage facing the audience with a confronting yet stoic expression. This bewitching final performance was the perfect end to a captivating and varied evening. Intentional or not, each artist truly demonstrated the potential of the Bolding Gallery space, and I eagerly anticipate what is next to be exhibited. WM