Feeding the Bite

Feeding the Bite is the result of students chomping into their studio work—pun intended—to engage with the numerous trajectories presented for their ideas. The deeper the bite, the more satisfying the rewards. More specifically, and in reference to the title of the show, it is a term used in situations particularly related to mental health. To ‘feed the bite’ is to counter the instinct to pull away when bitten by another individual or a wild animal, lest more flesh be damaged; it contends one should instead lean into the mouth of the aggressor until they let go. This approach requires patience, contemplation and faith that such a confrontation will be rewarding, even though painful. In a multitude of ways, and through a range of media, these nine artists admirably tackle the bite full-on rather than pulling away from danger: some jesting and jabbing at their fears; others shifting sideways to avoid further injury; others confronting the source with a more acerbic edge, acknowledging the deep wounds.