INTRODUCTION TO ESSSENSSSE

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TEXT VERSION

Welcome to the exhibition, ESSSENSSSE, by artist HOSSEI. The exhibition dates are Friday 4 July to Sunday 7 September 2025 at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Wiradjuri Country.

Bathurst Regional Council acknowledges the Wiradjuri People as the Traditional Custodians of the land in the Bathurst Region. We pay respect to Elders, past, present, and emerging and acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live, work and play in the Bathurst region. 

ESSSENSSSE began when HOSSEI became fascinated by the sand dollar sea creatures— their shape, features, and how in mediaeval times it was truly believed that sand dollars were mermaid currency. When looking at the sand dollar, HOSSEI realised that if you were to remove the physical characteristics of a human body, you would be left with a mouth and an anus, just like the sand dollar. It is this idea that compelled HOSSEI to make the sand dollar an emblem of the show. An entry point and an exit, not just with food, but in the sense of discerning which energies come through and nourish the insides, and which are let out. ESSSENSSSE is about letting go and being one with the spirit and embracing its purity and vulnerability.  

ESSSENSSSE is an aquatic ecosystem that explores the tenacity of the human spirit, stripping away corporeal human qualities and revealing what’s underneath. ESSSENSSSE is the third instalment to what HOSSEI calls his “sister shows,” O, presented at UTS Gallery & Art Collection (NSW) in 2023, and later THUNDERBLOOM at West Space (VIC) in 2023. Where O focused on the physical body, being up in the air and in transit, and THUNDERBLOOM looked at the human psyche, the weather in the mind, a stormy night – ESSSENSSSE is the next morning, the BODY, MIND, SPIRIT after a big night, looking at the sea for new beginnings. 

On the outside of the gallery, there are vinyl decorations of sea creatures on the ground and exterior walls leadings towards the gallery doors. These creatures include starfish and sand dollars, as well as two purple worm-like sea creatures which come together to create an arch. 

The gallery is broken into smaller galleries, divided by walls. ESSSENSSSE will be exhibited across four of the gallery spaces. The first is called the Ceramics Gallery, which is on the left, after reception. In this space, there is a video projection on the right wall, from floor to ceiling. The video is a recording of an ESSSENSSSE performance at Verge where the performers wore the ESSSENSSSE costumes. 

To the right of reception is a gallery space with an arch which is approximately 5 metres high. On the arch, there is a sign saying “ESSSENSSSE” in colourful electric neon lights.  

Behind this exhibit is a dividing wall which creates another gallery space. In this gallery, there is a variety of costumes which hang deconstructed from points in the ceiling from purple and orange rope. Audiences are encouraged to gently touch the costumes. There is orange carpet on the floor, with some sections of concrete exposed. 

To the left is the fourth and final gallery which contains the majority of the costumes which hang from the ceiling. This space also has an orange carpet. 

The majority of walls in the exhibition are painted a bright orange, with a couple of walls remaining white. There are randomly placed fluorescent lights that are circular with wavy edges in yellow, green, purple, pink and red. Different coloured plush starfish are also attached to the walls in random placements. Along with the starfish, brown and white coils of tubular rope, about 30cm in length, which the artist thinks of as snails, are attached to the walls. 

A soft and gentle meditative soundscape plays in the background. Calming and soothing sounds collected by the artist include a vibraphone, conch-shell horns, ocean waves, whale songs and even his purring cat named Taro. 

The first iteration of ESSSENSSSE was at Verge Gallery from 14 February – 24 April, 2024. After its appearance at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, ESSSENSSSE will be travelling to Yarrila Arts and Museum in Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, across 2025 and 2026. 

For accessibility, the full list of audio descriptions of the costumes are available and can be accessed via wall mounted QR codes located on the left and right-hand side once inside the gallery or at reception. Tactile floor indicators, detectable by cane, are positioned directly below these QR codes. 

These audio descriptions were codesigned, in collaboration with the artist, by Sarah Empey and Anthia Balis, and aim to provide enhanced accessibility for all visitors, including those who are blind or have low vision.