Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Down in the murky depths of an art vault in Southampton strange creatures and eerie dolls are lurking.

Don't panic though - they're the oddball creations of artists Melanie Light and Ufuoma Urie.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Southampton's Abbie Collins braved the darkness and went to meet them.

Actually, these creations aren't as spooky as they first appear and their creators, Melanie and Urie are keen to stress that their work isn't meant to scare or upset people.

Melanie Light and Ufuoma Urie

Melanie, originally from Chandler's Ford, used to volunteer at A-Space, an art centre in Southampton. A-Space have now helped Melanie and London-based Ufuoma (or Urie as she's known) get an exhibiting area in the city's underground medieval art vault at 94 The High Street.

The resulting exhibition is Anomaly - a collection of work by both artists with one collaborative piece as the focal point. Both artists have created three dimensional pieces which lie somewhere between sculpture and toy-making, often with macabre undertones.

There is a dark, ghoulish quality to the work but as the artists point out, it all has a softer edge to it - a bit like dressing up at Halloween.

Urie is behind the Little Apple Dolls - cult figures which can be bought worldwide through a chain of comic book stores.

Sortilegus (soothsayer) and Ave Praesul, 2004. Courtesy and copyright Ufuoma Urie.

Her larger versions of these dolls are on display at the exhibition as individual art pieces. With their formless faces and souless stare, they could easily be something out of a horror film.

Both artists are big fans of horror, fantasy and comic book culture and describe their work as 'horror art'. "It's not gore though", insists Melanie, "It's cute as well."

Urie explains," A lot of people have this perception that our art is really scary. They've been saying that people of a nervous disposition shouldn't attend our exhibition! It isn't really like that. People have the perception that just because we're influenced by horror films, science fiction and parts of alternative culture that our work is going to be exactly like that. But I think that because we're female, we're softer that that."

"Yeah, we're loved up!", says Melanie.

Bad Day Cat, 2004. Courtesy and copyright Melanie Light.

There are grisly messages behind some of their work but it's done with a lashing of humour. Melanie creates animals which represent comic strip heroes who stand up for their animal rights. For instance, the idea behind one of her pieces is about a fox that seeks revenge on a hunter.

The vault that the artists have chosen to exhibit in really enhances the work. Surprisingly, the atmosphere in the underground stone cellar is decidedly cosy rather than oppressing, perhaps proving that the artwork exhibited here isn't scary or morbid after all.

Detail of Angelica Monster 2004. Courtesy and copyright Melanie Light.

As their work is pushing the boundaries of what is traditionally known as art, Mel and Urie consider themsleves to be outsiders in the art world. "Our work is so different from anything you'll see in an art gallery - the work there is just boring if you ask me", says Mel.

Urie continues, "I don't think it's boring - I can appreciate it - but it's not really to my taste. There is a hierachy in art and, at the moment, we are definitely considered to be at the lower end of it. But there's craftmanship in what we do. Mel studied sculpture, I did fine art. We've both covered most areas of art in some way."

Their work may not be considered to be art in the traditional sense but for the goths, geeks, comic buffs and horror fans in the area it's the perfect exhibition.