SOME of Bermuda's more contemporary artists will have their chance to shine in an atypical exhibit at the Bermuda Society of Arts which opens tonight.

Shape of Space will feature modern genre, abstract and non-objective works. According to gallery director Peter Lapsley, it's a deviation from art styles typically showcased in Bermuda.

"We were trying to put together a show that provided an opportunity for some of the more contemporary genres to be displayed," he explained. "It's not done that much here and we wanted to educate the public and our membership (about them)."

Two- and three-dimensional abstract and non-objective works will be featured in the Edinburgh gallery, while the main gallery will play host to the modern genres. According to Mr. Lapsley, there are various categories which fall under this title:

l Installation - When the environment that contains the work is used and becomes a part of the work.

l Video - The use of video, non-commerically, as a medium.

l Performance - Non-narrative work put on by a person or persons.

l Conceptual - Work that focuses on the idea behind the piece rather than the end visual result itself.

"Traditionally, people associate the Bermuda Society of Arts with a traditional or classical arts focus - oil paintings, watercolours. We're trying to associate with everyone. Although most of our shows allow (artists to submit work) in any medium, installation work is harder to fit into exhibits with (more traditional pieces) and so we wanted a special show for that.

"There's not a huge amount of our membership that actually do this work. People don't know much about these genres, and some aren't the easiest things to broach. You look at a painting and you see that it's visual, it's pretty. It makes you happy. (It's not the same) with installation pieces.

"They're not meant to be commentaries on society. There's nothing much to them except that they're visually pleasing to (the artist). Other people don't have to like it. It's completely subjective work. The idea of modern genre is that it expresses an idea.

"It can be visually pleasing or not visually pleasing to you, the viewer. People get out of it what they will. They can enjoy it or not enjoy it but it's made them think on some level. and that's what art is meant to be about."

q Shape of Space is on exhibit at the Bermuda Society of Arts at City Hall through the end of the month. For more information, contact the gallery at 292-3824.

See Style section for more entertainment stories