Equanipolis: Aniara Omann

Our collective hope for what the future might look like is heavily shaped by both our past and present. Danish artist Aniara Omann considers just this in Equanipolis; a new exhibition of work at Humber Street Gallery.

The two-floor exhibition uses sculpture, textiles and animatronics to explore what the future of humanity might look like. Investigating how our vision of the future is influenced by our experiences with science-fiction film and TV, as well as modern day social and environmental issues.

Omann’s dark and futuristic sculptures use traditional special effects techniques such as silicone–based casting, as well as newer bio-conscious materials that mimic human skin.

Inspired by traditional prop-making, vintage fashion and popular sci-fi, Equanipolis invites you to step into an alternate reality and reconsider the past, present and future.

Exhibition Preview: Equanipolis

Join us in the Gallery Café and Galleries 1 & 2 for the Exhibition Preview of Equanipolis.

The two-floor exhibition uses sculpture, textiles and animatronics to explore what the future of humanity might look like. Investigating how our vision of the future is influenced by our experiences with science-fiction film and TV, as well as modern day social and environmental issues.

Omann’s dark and futuristic sculptures use traditional special effects techniques such as silicone–based casting, as well as newer bio-conscious materials that mimic human skin.

Inspired by traditional prop-making, vintage fashion and popular sci-fi, Equanipolis invites you to step into an alternate reality and reconsider the past, present and future.

Curator’s Tour: Proboscidea Rappings

Join Senior Curator John Heffernan for a guided tour and introduction to Ollie Dook’s new exhibition Proboscidea Rappings.

Jumbo the Elephant was one of the first modern day animal celebrities. Born in 1861 Jumbo tragically died in 1885 after a fatal collision with a train. The impact of his brief time on this planet was felt on a global scale.

Artist Ollie Dook examines the story of an archived photograph which depicts an imitation ‘Jumbo’ crossing Hull’s Monument Bridge in the 19th Century as part of Barnum’s circus parade.

Image credited to Animal Stories. The Painting Elephant. Courtesy of Ollie Dook.

Exhibition Preview: Proboscidea Rappings

Join us in the Gallery Café and Project Space for the exhibition preview of Proboscidea Rappings by Ollie Dook.

Jumbo the Elephant was one of the first modern day animal celebrities. Born in 1861 Jumbo tragically died in 1885 after a fatal collision with a train. The impact of his brief time on this planet was felt on a global scale.

Artist Ollie Dook examines the story of an archived photograph which depicts an imitation ‘Jumbo’ crossing Hull’s Monument Bridge in the 19th Century as part of Barnum’s circus parade.

Through an exhibition that combines video and sculpture, Dook offers up a new version of Jumbo, exploring the enormity of his physicality, popularity and impact on the world.

Exhibition Preview: Wrapping

Join us for the Exhibition Preview of Nnena Kalu’s exhibition Wrapping. The preview takes place midway through Kalu’s week-long live installation.

Nnena Kalu’s colourful sculptures are created by layering and binding materials such as industrial plastic tubing, newspaper, foam, cling film, fabric and tape. Kalu will construct a series of large-scale sculptures which playfully wrap around the gallery, responding to the unique architecture of the Project Space.

Nnena Kalu is a studio artist at ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities.

Image credited to: Nnena Kalu for Glasgow International 2018

Live Install: Nnena Kalu

Experience artist Nnena Kalu’s energetic creative process during a performance-like installation of her exhibition Wrapping.

Nnena Kalu’s colourful sculptures are created by layering and binding materials such as industrial plastic tubing, newspaper, foam, cling film, fabric and tape. Kalu will construct a series of large-scale sculptures which playfully wrap around the gallery, responding to the unique architecture of the Project Space.

Nnena Kalu is a studio artist at ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities.

Nnena Kalu in Belgium

Viewing of ‘I am the Coyote’ rare books and archive material

Guided viewing of the archive of manuscripts, rare books, original writings, press cuttings and other printed ephemera connected to the Special Unit at HMP Barlinnie and the life and work of Joseph Beuys.

Taking place in the Rare Books collection, 7th Floor, Brynmor Jones Library. Please meet in the ‘I am the Coyote’ exhibition space. Due to certain restrictions of the 7th floor collections, if you have accessibility requirements please contact us at culture@hull.ac.uk or on 01482 465683 for further information before booking.

Free tour, booking essential due to limited spaces.
NB: Photography of the items is not permitted. No pens are allowed. Pencils, laptops, and tablets are fine.

COMING HOME: William Wilberforce

Sir Thomas Lawrence’s famous portrait of William Wilberforce will be exhibited in Hull at the Ferens Art Gallery as part of a major project launched by the National Portrait Gallery. The COMING HOME project sees the National Portrait Gallery lend 50 portraits of iconic individuals to places across the UK with which they are most closely associated.

William Wilberforce was born in 1759, the son of a Hull merchant. In 1780, Wilberforce was elected MP for Hull, and through tireless efforts, became the parliamentary spokesperson for the British campaign to abolish Transatlantic Slavery.

As Wilberforce’s portrait will journey home, an accompanying exhibition will look at the journey of his legacy. Starting with Wilberforce, his life in Hull and his pivotal role in the Abolition campaign, the exhibition will explore how his memory has been celebrated in the City and inspired anti-slavery campaigner Salim Charles Wilson in the 1900s. The exhibition also includes a 2007 commission for Hull by Jamaican artist Keith Piper to mark the national bicentenary of the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The portrait will be on display in the Ferens Art Gallery together with works from the Ferens, and Wilberforce House Museum permanent collections.

LOST: Photography Exhibition

Take a look at this inspiring collection of images recording the development of the Lost Trawlerman Memorial in Hull by Nigel Walker.

In 2003 Saint Andrews Dock Heritage Park Action Group launched a public appeal to raise money for a memorial to over 6000 fishermen who gave their lives in the fishing industry sailing from Hull. In 2015 Peter Naylor won a public vote on submitted designs. This design in weathered steel now stands on St Andrews Quay, on a temporary site. Once work is completed on flood defences in the area a memorial garden will be completed and the sculpture will be moved there as a centrepiece.

Nigel Walker worked with STAND and Peter Naylor to record the making of the memorial – from early design work in the studio, to the cutting of the steel, erection on site and the dedication of the monument by the Archbishop of York in 2017. Nigel continues to visit and photograph the sculpture and will eventually finalise this documentary when the memorial garden is completed sometime in 2020. Fundraising for the garden continues.

Location: The Carriage House, open daily from 10am – 5pm

This exhibition is included with the normal admission charges.

GIN AND CANAPES EVENING

Grab a fellow Gin enthusiast and join us for an evening where you can discover the flavours of Hull’s Humber Street Distillery with a Gin and Canapes tasting experience. 18+ only.

What’s included?

A welcome cocktail

3 Gin drinks + canapes

A Humber Street Distillery representative to give you an insight into the spirit

Ollie Dook: Proboscidea Rappings

Jumbo the Elephant was one of the first modern day animal celebrities. Born in 1861 Jumbo tragically died in 1885 after a fatal collision with a train. The impact of his brief time on this planet was felt on a global scale.

Artist Ollie Dook examines the story of an archived photograph which depicts an imitation ‘Jumbo’ crossing Hull’s Monument Bridge in the 19th Century as part of Barnum’s circus parade.

Through an exhibition that combines video and sculpture, Dook offers up a new version of Jumbo, exploring the enormity of his physicality, popularity and impact on the world.

Nnena Kalu: Wrapping

Nnena Kalu’s colourful sculptures are created by layering and binding materials such as industrial plastic tubing, newspaper, foam, cling film, fabric and tape. Kalu will construct a series of large-scale sculptures which playfully wrap around the gallery, responding to the unique architecture of the Project Space.

Visitors are invited to experience Nnena’s energetic creative process, which is shared through a performance-like activation of the works during the initial few days of the exhibition.

Nnena Kalu is a studio artist at ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities.

Live install: 30 October – 5 November, 10am – 6pm – Public can visit space to view work in progress.
Exhibition dates: Wednesday 6 November – Sunday 8 December

Fisherwomen

FISHERWOMEN

Award-winning photographer, Craig Easton, well known for his landscape work and intimate portraits of real lives, explores the past and present. His work will bring together three strands of the fisherwomen’s story: their heritage, their journey and contemporary portraits, including exciting new commissions of Hull’s own fisherwomen.

Featuring more than 22 large format portraits and landscapes, plus an audio visual presentation with almost 100 images and voiceover by local Hull fisherwomen Dawn Walton, the exhibition will highlight the central and essential role women play in the modern fishing industry today. Nowadays, many women still work in the demanding industry and their work is now almost done entirely behind closed doors in processing factories, sheds and smokehouses.

With his work, Craig has followed the traditional route of the herring trade from Shetland down the east coast, via Hull to Great Yarmouth exploring the role of women in the fishing industry.

Following the exhibition, some of Craig’s new work of Hull women will be used within the planned new displays at Hull Maritime Museum, as part of Hull’s major maritime project.

I Am The Coyote: Exhibition

In these challenging times, Joseph Beuys’s ideas of an “extended definition of art empowered with the creative potential to help shape society and politics” is worth considering again.

This exhibition focuses on a unique experiment in penal reform which, more than 40 years ago, challenged society’s understanding of the causes of violence resulting from incarceration, physical deprivation and drug abuse.

Inspired by Richard Demarco, selected artists revisit the legacy of Barlinnie Prison’s Special Unit and – with HMP Humber’s Graft studio – set a progressive contemporary context exploring the transformative possibilities of art and the continuing relevance of the creative solutions that were offered.

Is it my Fault?

An exhibition dispelling the myths of rape and sexual assault

“What were you wearing?” Society continues to blame the victim for provoking an attack by how they dressed, where they were or even the time of day.

This exhibition hopes to dispel the myth of provocative dress being a factor in violent sexual crimes. Behind the shocking statistics, data and quotes are real people, made of flesh and blood left to deal with the aftermath of sexual violence.

No matter your dress, your actions or behaviour before the assault the only person responsible is the perpetrator.
#isitmyfault

Opening hours

Monday-Friday 10.00 am – 3.00 pm (excluding Wednesday 7 August)
During the Freedom Festival weekend (Saturday 31 August & Sunday 1 September,) the exhibition will be open 10.00 am – 3.00pm.

Arctic Corsair - Chris Pepper

Arctic Corsair – The Move

On Sunday, the Arctic Corsair, the country’s last surviving, distant-water, sidewinder trawler is to move from its current location for the first time in over 20 years!

This historic event will see the Arctic Corsair move to temporary storage at Associated British Ports. She will then receive a major programme of restoration works to secure her long-term future!

More information on the restoration works can be seen here https://maritimehull.co.uk/

The ship should have left its berth by 12 noon.