This week, our group visited the Collective Gallery atop Calton Hill to see Jerwood Survey III, a group exhibition showcasing early-career artists working across diverse disciplines and themes.
Upon arrival, we gradually dispersed throughout the gallery spaces. The layout—with intimate rooms and panoramic views—encouraged a slower, more contemplative rhythm.
One work that stayed with me was Philippa Brown’s A Summoning (I would shed my skin for you) (2024), an immersive sculptural installation made of steel, wood, pulp, shells, plaster, fabric, and photographs. The title evokes transformation, intimacy, and vulnerability. “To shed skin” suggests both a biological process and an emotional offering—something given, risked, or surrendered. The delicate juxtaposition of hard and soft materials created a tension between protection and exposure—between being held and being dissolved.
This piece speaks directly to themes of identity, relationality, and change—echoing the core of my curatorial interest in the plasticity of life. I found myself slowing down, walking around it more than once, noticing how the materials spoke to each other in silence. It reminded me that curation is sometimes about creating quiet, emotionally resonant spaces for things to unfold.
The exhibition’s inclusion of a British Sign Language (BSL) tour reflects a strong curatorial ethic—considering who is included and how. Gabi’s lecture in Week 10 emphasized that accessibility is not an afterthought but a curatorial choice. By offering multimodal access, Collective creates a platform where diverse publics are not just invited but anticipated. This approach prompted me to reflect on how I might incorporate accessibility into my own project—not only through physical design but also through programming and narration.
The ‘slow’ elements of the exhibition—such as tactile materials, soft lighting, spaces to rest, and opportunities for personal reflection—created an atmosphere of self-awareness and generativity. I want to ensure the space holds the kind of quietness and generosity that we experienced on Calton Hill—a space that gives people time to notice their own feelings and perhaps even transform.
Image Credits:
A Summoning (I would shed my skin for you) by Philippa Brown, 2024. Installation view at Collective Gallery, Edinburgh. Photo: © Eoin Carey. Courtesy of the artist and Collective Gallery.
Source: Collective Gallery, Jerwood Survey III, 2024
Visit the exhibition site © 2025 by Chuni Mao is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 
A Summoning (I would shed my skin for you), Philippa Brown, 2024 © Eoin Carey © 2025 by Chuni Mao is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Jerwood Survey III © 2025 by Chuni Mao is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Group photograph © 2025 by Chuni Mao is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
