The Architecture of Wonder: HIBISCUS TV Returns with “Origins of Matter”

A transformative journey through performance, painting, poetry and film, where laughter becomes the doorway to seeing reality.

Get ready, RabbleRousers! One of our favorite artistic powerhouses is returning to the spotlight. HIBISCUS TV, the visionary collaborative team of Amy Kaps and Kaye Freeman, is set to take over Matter Studio Gallery from August 16 through September 13, 2026, with their newest exploration, Origins of Matter.

A Legacy of “Mind-Blowing” Performance

This upcoming residency follows a string of high-profile successes that have cemented HIBISCUS TV as masters of the multidisciplinary. We are still buzzing from their incredible November 2024 performance at Highways Performance Space, where they utilized universal archetypal mythology and legend to highlight the symbiotic kinship between society and nature.

This duo has a rich history of making waves; from Sea Levels Rising at the LA Art Show to their evocative work at the Ebb and Flow Festival and Building Bridges Art Exchange. Their cinematic reach is equally impressive, with screenings spanning from the Comeback Festival in LA to the New Film Festival Miami.

Humor as the Ultimate Doorway

The Origins of Matter exhibition invites us to look past the physical world and into the “invisible beliefs” from which it emerged. While some artists aim to document the world as it is, Kaps and Freeman occupy a more elusive space: revealing the world we have quietly constructed for ourselves.

Their work highlights the contradictions of modern life; abundance beside scarcity and beauty beside destruction by using a signature blend of wit and curiosity. In their world, laughter is never an escape from reality; it is the “doorway through which reality becomes visible”. By utilizing handmade costumes, recycled materials, and theatrical interventions, they transform the familiar into something “wonderfully unfamiliar”.

Event Spotlight: Poetry and the “Metal Gods”

A major highlight of the residency occurs on Sunday, August 30, when the gallery will host an evening of poetry by Cherry Pie Press followed by HIBISCUS TV’s performance of Metal Gods.

We are particularly excited about Oakland-based Cherry Pie Press. Led by founder and “out” trans poet Natasha Dennerstein, whose work brings a vital perspective to the literary world. As Dennerstein has shared, “Right now, is the perfect time to increase the LGBTQ presence in the publishing world.” This collaboration adds a powerful layer of representation to an already profound exhibition.

A Residency of “Startling Honesty”

True to their reputation for “remarkable generosity,” HIBISCUS TV never preaches or accuses; instead, they lead with wonder, trusting it can accomplish what outrage cannot.

This residency at Matter Studio Gallery (5080 West Pico Blvd.) features a packed schedule of live interventions:

Opening Reception: Sunday, August 16, 4–8 PM (Free).

Performance – Water and Earth: Sunday, August 23, 6–8:30 PM. Includes a screening of the film compilation The Elements ($20).

Poetry & Performance: Sunday, August 30, 6–8:30 PM. Featuring Cherry Pie Press and HIBISCUS TV’s Metal Gods ($20).

Performance Encore – Water and Earth: Sunday, September 6, 6–8:30 PM. A second chance to catch the performance and film screening ($20).

Closing Reception: Sunday, September 13, 4–6 PM (Free).

Don’t miss this opportunity to see HIBISCUS TV peel back the “fragile architecture of contemporary life”. For tickets and more information, visit Matter Studio Gallery website.