Mar Simon '23 displayed their self-portrait in their alien form in their campus student exhibition. Photo by Emma Quirk '26.
By Fang Cieprisz ’26
Staff Writer
Art studio major Mar Simon ’23 showcased their exhibition “Martian Gallery” in Blanchard Gallery from Oct. 18-31. The exhibition offers students a chance to take a break from their busy lives and step into a lounge inspired by imagery of outer space. According to Associate Professor of Art and Chair of Art Studio Lisa Iglesias, “[Simon’s]’s exhibition brings into conversation social practice philosophies, strategies of installation and handmade processes — all issues which are relevant and concurrent in contemporary dialogues in cultural production. … [Simon’s]’s exhibition is unique to the artist’s visual language and vision.”
Entering the space, viewers’ eyes are first drawn to a sign on the floor welcoming them to the titular “Martian Lounge,” which was originally titled “Abduction.” Changing the name of the exhibition effectively shifts its meaning as well: “I wanted it to be a space for people to spend their time in and chill, and if they want to sit here and look at it and enjoy themselves they can. … I kind of wanted to advertise it more as a lounge actually,” Simon explained in an interview with Mount Holyoke News. This effort to create a space for students to sit and enjoy themselves is evident in the room’s furnishings; the art adorning the walls is accompanied by a large, black bean bag and a bright green lava lamp, bringing together the otherworldly atmosphere. Simon continued, “The space is very much about what’s fun. … People come in and [say], ‘Oh my god, this is enjoyable.’ … I feel like it’s just been like a crazy few years — [a] crazy time — and I just wanted to create a space where people could have fun [and] be chill. … It made me feel good to make a space like that.”
The exhibition is full of many kinds of media, but Simon highlights an animation projected onto the wall by the door, greeting attendees. It depicts a group of aliens walking from left to right, paralleling the viewer’s experience as they step further into the gallery. According to Simon, “The animation [is positioned so that when] you’re walking in, you’ve got your alien walking in with you. … It just made sense to do aliens because I think they have a very fun aesthetic, and they’re kind of nondescript beings. They don’t really have a gender or race attached to them. Everyone can kind of relate. … It’s not like this is a specific kind of person. It’s just a person.”
“It just made sense to do aliens because I think they have a very fun aesthetic, and they’re kind of nondescript beings. They don’t really have a gender or race attached to them. Everyone can kind of relate. … It’s not like this is a specific kind of person. It’s just a person.”
At the back of the room, there is a painting sandwiched by two pieces of cloth. Simon emphasized the importance of filling up the space, which included using the drapery. Depicting a purple galaxy, the painting itself is its own mixed-media project, painted on a reused canvas from a past student and embroidered with stars. “It’s very interesting to kind of strip all of [it] off … and then just spray paint over it, but I thought the texture was enough to give it a spacey vibe,” Simon said about the process of reusing the painting.
On the wall adjacent to the painting, there is a large drawing of a person with green skin and antennae, which is a self-portrait of the artist as an alien. Simon talked about the piece as an effective artist’s signature for the whole room, a way to be present in it for its viewers.“I made this, so I feel like I wanted to physically put a piece up in here and be like, ‘Hey, I’m the artist,’” they said. They also referred to the piece as a place where attendees could take pictures, essentially with the artist themself.
Simon’s favorite part of the exhibition, however, was not their own creation. As viewers are led around the room and end up by the door again, Simon invites them via a note on the wall to create their very own alien with paper and markers available. As evidenced by the many, many aliens, attendees took this message to heart. “[Y]ou can see the incredible things that people have done. … [There’s] just such a joy in that. [People are] just here [drawing] silly little aliens, and I think it’s amazing,” Simon said. This aspect of the exhibition gives the audience a chance to be artists, too, letting them be a part of this act of creation. Considering Simon’s desire to make the lounge a space to relax, it seems fitting that attendees can add their own forms of self-expression. The wall demonstrates Simon’s point that aliens are accessible to all because of their versatility and lack of a set description — each piece of paper looks completely different from the one next to it, showcasing a different creator’s point of view. Simon pointed out a few of their favorites: “Some of these are from my family, because they came for friends and family weekend. This one is from my abuela, she drew my abuelo. … My abuelo actually immigrated from Cuba, and I think aliens, coming from a different planet, it feels like a way I could put a story together … that would be a reference to where I came from.”
They also stopped to talk about two drawings placed at the very top that would have had to be placed there by jumping or using a ladder, seeming to appreciate the artists’ enthusiasm. “I think that’s what’s fun about this room, … you can kind of fill the space,” they said, referencing the ways they have worked to fill the space through their own aliens placed around the room. As impressive as the gallery was, Simon’s focus seemed to be on the art they could inspire others to create, saying that they would often check back to see what new drawings had been added and that they wanted to base their next work on the aliens others have created. Iglesias also spoke about Simon as an inspiration, saying “Mar and their MHC artist peers motivate me in my own practice and create a culture of imagination and possibilities here on campus.”
Although Simon’s exhibition is no longer on display, Iglesias promised more art exhibitions in the future. Iglesias spoke more broadly about art installations at Mount Holyoke, saying, “There are a variety of ways that MHC students exhibit their creative research — as part of Art Studio courses, at the Blanchard Gallery, on campus [and] among other venues. … In addition, art majors create capstone projects that are public facing as part of their last “Senior Studio” course — so stay tuned for many such shows this April.”