Permindar Kaur's 'Nothing is Fixed' exhibition at John Hansard Gallery explores childhood fears through fabric creatures

Permindar Kaur presents 'Nothing is Fixed' at John Hansard Gallery in Southampton from June 8 to September 7. The exhibition spans three galleries, addressing themes of childhood and domesticity through fabric sculptures and installations. Works include the Camouflage series (2012–24), featuring copper-clawed animals emerging from patterned fabric panels. Untitled: Bed (2020) displays colorful fabric globules with copper spikes beneath a bedframe. Hunting Chair (2024), a steel high seat, overlooks the public square through gallery windows. The final gallery contains black fabric figures in installations like Armoured Truck (2016), Black Curtain (2015), Branch (2016), and Ten Teddies & Barrier (2017). These cartoonish, devil-horned forms suggest narratives of conspiracy and surveillance, yet maintain a child-friendly aesthetic. The exhibition blends Victorian salon-style displays with contemporary themes, using materials like fabric, copper, and steel to create a disarming yet cuddly atmosphere. Kaur's work invites psychoanalytic interpretation while mitigating horror through soft-toy allusions. Floor Flowers (2024) adds stenciled daisies to offset darker undertones. The show's merchandise potential highlights its accessible approach to exploring domestic fears and violent fantasies.