Hosted at Artspace, Event Horizon is a major solo exhibition by artist Michaela Gleave that delves into concepts drawn from astrophysics, cosmology, and the esoteric. Utilising four different spaces, Gleave explores aspects of our universe, prompting the audience to reevaluate our perception.
The Reading Room
The first space was the reading room, where I found a bench covered in pages of text and printed articles. Michaela shared, “I’m very conceptually driven, and I do a lot of reading,” when describing the crucial parts of her process. I was able to leaf through the spread of writing, learning about the art and its inspirations.
Across from me was a foil door curtain hung in the doorway, a spotlight pointed its way, causing the light to shimmer on the foil, bouncing off the walls and dancing around the room. The curtain added a magical touch as I stepped into the next room… or rather, the next realm.
The Quantum Realm
Turquoise and fuchsia lighting set a different tone as I looked around at the installations that hugged the walls. Large shiny balloons, both round and spiky, sat on top of mounds of crumbed industrial foal showered in glitter. The humming of singing bowls was resonant in the air, with the occasional flash of strobe “lightning”, momentarily contributing to the soundscape. The mirror-like orbs materialised Michaela’s intent to explore the concept of movement being reflected in time and space.
Organic Realm
Stepping into the Organic Realm I was surrounded by darkness, allowing me to focus on the earthy smell and the music in the room. I turned the corner to see a large gong, golden and illuminated, with 6 tons of soil sculpted at its base. I sat for a while in this space, basking in the meditative atmosphere.
Entanglement Field
The final space was the Entanglement Field, which featured two Shuman generators placed high on a walls on the corridor. Michaela described how the electromagnetic spectrum is a key feature in her exploration of the invisible. The framed resonators create an electromagnetic frequency of 7.83 Hertz, the base frequency of the ionosphere. This connection back to the frequency of the earth as I passed through the corridor felt an appropriate symbolic ending to the exhibition.
Sound
I was fascinated to learn about how sound is a crucial material in Michaela’s work, allowing her to “make art in the air”, and bridge the gap between the audience and the art by immersing us in it without the need for physical form. Michaela made the music herself, digitally manipulating sine tones, and utilising the gong, singing bowls and Tibetan cow bells. Additionally, each room contains an instrument, further highlighting the importance of sound in her artwork.
The inclusion of sound in this exhibition was a standout for me, as it allowed me to absorb and interact with the art in a more personally meaningful way.
Universal Maintenance
A major part of this exhibition is the weekly performances, or "Universal Maintenance". Throughout the exhibition, Michaela will make appearances to reset sound loops, play instruments, and tune the space "according to [her] understanding of the universe."
As she makes her way through each room, the artist interacts with the respective instrument, like the planetary attuned chimes in the reading room representative of the rotation of our solar system, the wave drum in the Quantum Field, and the Shuman generators in the Entanglement Field.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed exploring this unique artistic representation of time, space, and reality, experiencing full immersion through this exhibition. Michaela’s work is more than just something to look at; it invites us to ponder the universe and our perception of it.
Exhibition Information
Event Horizon will be showing at Artspace Sydney until Sunday 7 June 2026.
Review and Photography by: Eleanor Edwards