On 25 May, The Horse Hospital hosted an evening for artists Alexia Marmara and Josephine Foster. Tucked away amid the cobbled backstreets, deep within the recesses of the old hospital, there commenced an evening of poetry and song. Surrounded by surreal creatures and inked riddles, Marmara began with her own poetic talk, followed by a series of performances by Foster, their voices bringing to life the images and words that plastered the walls.

The show is a collaboration between the two artists; Marmara, who has recently relocated to Margate, and Foster, originally from Colorado. Marmara shows an array of works on paper and canvas, depicting beings reminiscent of medieval monsters. Biomorphic forms with a skeletal theme characterise the works, delicately coloured, echoing Victorian insect studies.

An example of Alexia Marmara’s works on paper and canvas, depicting biomorphic forms that echo Victorian insect studies

Foster’s primary medium is her enchanting voice. Originally trained as an opera singer, she has joined Marmara in displaying a visual manifestation of her poetry and riddles. Foster records her words on long scrolls with brown ink, inserting iconographic symbols of eyes and animals, similar to medieval marginalia and employing the same comical charm.

Marmara and Foster have gone so far as to punctuate the very fabric of The Horse Hospital, directly painting surreal figures onto the walls. A horse, seemingly framed with a halo, emerges from one corner – a nod to the space’s history.

The Horse Hospital provides a fitting backdrop for the show, having once served as a stable for London’s ailing cab horses. The building itself, built in 1797, retains a historic charm, while the works on show have an otherworldly quality.

There is a consistency and cohesion to their shared aesthetic and values. A truly authentic exhibition, the works of Marmara and Foster are deeply honest and entrenched in their personal practices, deserving of tender consideration.

Anew Old Adage is on from Tuesday-Saturday 12-6pm until 8 June; booking is advised; suggested donation £10; thehorsehosptial.com