In the Glow of What We Own
A solo exhibition by artist Benjamin Levy
6th November - 5th December
In the Glow of What We Own Exhibition Catalogue
unitom projects presents In the Glow of What We own by artist Benjamin Levy.
In In the Glow of What We Own, Benjamin Levy explores the relationship between hardship, desire and the meaning we attach to our possessions. Drawing on his working-class upbringing, he brings together two subjects that might seem worlds apart: candles, rooted in childhood memories of going without electricity, and designer trainers and shirts, once out of reach but now attainable through hard work.
The exhibition comprises 18 paintings of candles, made with oil paint and wax on birch wood panel, and 12 paintings of designer trainers and shirts on roofing slate. The candles refer to a time when the family could not always afford to top up the electricity meter, making their light a source of both warmth and comfort. The designer pieces speak to a different kind of need: the wish for something beyond the essentials, and the pride of finally being able to afford it.
For Levy, these objects carry meanings that extend beyond their appearance. Designer labels can be dismissed as signs of status or vanity, yet they tell us little about the person who wears them. A pair of trainers may represent months of saving, hours of labour and the satisfaction of attaining something once out of reach. Even cleaning the scuffs from a well-worn pair of Nike Air Maxes becomes an act of care towards something that holds personal meaning.
Both series look beyond the surface of everyday objects. The candles speak of poverty and the absence of basic comforts; the clothing speaks of aspiration and the rewards of hard work. Together, they question the distinction between necessity and luxury, as well as the assumptions we make about what others possess.
In In the Glow of What We Own, worth is not defined by price, appearance or status alone. It is shaped by memory, effort and experience. What we possess can tell a story not only of what we have, but of where we come from and what it took to get here.
About the artist
Benjamin Levy (b. 1982, London) lives and works in North London. Largely self-taught, he has maintained a commitment to drawing and painting throughout his life. Before pursuing his art practice, Levy spent much of his twenties working across a range of trades, including gas engineering, carpet fitting and building. These experiences have shaped his understanding of working-class life and the pressures of making ends meet.
Levy’s work explores class, aspiration and the relationship between labour, social mobility and the things we value. Through paintings rooted in personal experience, he examines the sacrifices made in the pursuit of a better life, the desire for things once out of reach, and the lasting influence of our upbringing on how we see ourselves and the world around us.