If there is a singular topic that university students have an innate understanding of, it is pressure: The crushing weight of deadlines, exams and, of course, the future, coupled with the knowledge that what is achieved here may determine the course their lives will take.

It is with a similar perspective and understanding that the artists of Outworks Gallery found their inspiration for their latest exhibit.

The aptly named Pressure Points studies the effects of pressure on individual people, cultures and our ecosystem.

Through paint, photographs and wax, the artists explore the psychology behind the myriad pressures in our lives and the impact they have on us when they become too much to handle.

The subjects covered by the nine artists are as diverse as their artistic styles and mediums.

“Pride,” by Aleem Khan, is a mesmerizing painting. Featuring a fiery maple leaf at its centre, Khan explores the drive and strain that athletes put on themselves going for the gold – a timely portrait with the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Artist Christine Sleaver has multiple pieces in the exhibit, but her most interesting is certainly “Do You See Me Now,” an oversized portrait of a purple-haired woman, which is a deeply resonating portrayal of one’s desperate search for recognition.

“Time,” the beautiful encaustic (hot wax) painting by Susan Birdwise, is a fascinating exploration of what is probably the most common pressure in all our lives. The space provided makes the painting even more striking, as its unique medium and its pseudo-Arthurian appearance are a distinct departure from the more modern art that appears elsewhere in the exhibit.

Pressure Points is beautifully presented in the gallery space, with lots of breathing room that gives each piece the space it needs to be properly appreciated. The bright white walls are the perfect backdrop for both the more muted tones in some pieces – such as Clyde Finlay’s alluring black and white full body portraits – as well as for the entirely vibrant ones – as with Khan’s “Pride.”

Pressure Points runs until Thursday, Dec. 3 at Outworks Gallery (3rd floor, 290 McDermot Ave.).

Published in Volume 64, Number 13 of The Uniter (November 26, 2009)