By: Laura Van Pate

Through torn suits and a jumble of stiff socks, four DMV-area artists express their identity and culture in “UNFOLD,” a clothing gallery located at the Stamp Gallery. 

“UNFOLD” is a gallery featuring paintings and unfolded clothes by Hoesy Corona, Elliot Doughtie, HH Hiaasen and Mojdeh Rezaeipour. The group comes from diverse backgrounds: Corona is queer and latinx, Doughtie is a transgender man, Hiaasen identifies as non-binary and Rezaeipour is an Iranian-born woman.

Each of the four artists wanted to make a statement about who they are and what they believe in when making “UNFOLD.” 

“This exhibition connects the four artists because they all employ the concept of clothing to express an identity in some way, whether it be their sexuality, gender, or culture,” Isabella Chilcoat, a senior artist history major and intern at Stamp Gallery said.

Corona’s “Climate Ponchos,” represents the climate crisis. It features images such as mountains sewed onto ponchos. 

Corona’s artwork often centers around his identity of being queer, latinx and an immigrant.  

Doughtie’s main work in “UNFOLD” is a sock sculpture titled “Sock Pile,” which represents his transgender identity and the fluidity of gender, because socks are a clothing item that’s worn by all genders. The “Sock Pile” is a number of socks sewed together neatly.  He also touches on his identity and gender in other works such as his sculpture “The Lost Earring.”

Chiloat said she was especially inspired by the LGBT aspect of “UNFOLD.” “The exhibition does a really good job of amplifying people in the LGBT community and highlights specific areas of visual perception of their bodies in the public, which I think is something underrepresented,” she said 

Hiaasen’s “Ventilated Workwear” is an anti-uniform collection of clothing purposely made with holes in them. The workshowcases Hiaasen’s experience living in New York and in a queer body. Their work mainly touches on their own identity of being non-binary. 

“It’s interesting to see other people’s perspectives and what they’re going through,” Alexandra Marek, a sophomore computer science major, said. “I think art is a good way of showcasing struggles in a way that everyone can understand.” 

Rezaeipour’s main artwork in “UNFOLD” is a group of untitled paintings featuring either uprisings or Iranian women.Her artwork is meant to represent women’s rights in her home country of Iran, which has been the subject of recent civil unrest after the death of Mahsa Amini. Amini was arrested and killed by the Iranian police in September 2022 for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. 

Many of Rezaeipour’s other works center around Iranian women and the challenges they face.  

“I think it’s powerful what the four artists expressed in “UNFOLD”. Sometimes things are beyond words, and I think art does a great job of showcasing someone’s feelings,” Reshma Jasmine, a junior neuroscience major said. 

Around 400 UMD students have come to visit “UNFOLD” since its opening. 

“UNFOLD” opened at Stamp Gallery on Jan. 30, and will be available for student viewing until April 1.