Ferens to host exhibition on identity curated by young people

PAST WORK: Sirens by Liminal Creative in the museum gardens during Freedom Festival 2022

By Simon Bristow

A new exhibition focused on the theme of identity will open at Ferens Art Gallery on Friday.

The exhibition has been co-curated by young volunteers aged 18 to25 years from the Future Ferens, the Warren Youth Project, and community curator Sorcha Ni Foghluda, who have explored what identity means to them and to communities in Hull.

It will showcase key works from the Ferens permanent collection that resonate with the identity theme, alongside new works made by the young people in response.

Works from the collection selected include; Christopher Nevinson, Asters, Oil on canvas, c. 1930, Henry Moore’s Draped Torso, bronze sculpture, 1953, as well as two photographs by contemporary artist Seamus Nicolson. It is hoped the exhibition will encourage visitors to rediscover the Ferens collection and how they identify with it.

A free public events programme will run from April 1 to 16, led by young people from the Future Ferens and the Warren. This will offer an opportunity for the young curators and creatives to share their work, and for visitors to contribute their ideas about identity and the Ferens collection.

These events will also explore missing identities and how to better reflect the dynamics of local communities in Hull in the past, present, and future. More details on this can be found at www.hcandl.co.uk/ferens and on the gallery’s social media channels.

Alongside the exhibition, the gallery is also delighted to announce its first open call artist in residence will be Liminal Creative, led by Hul- based artist Louise Cole. Liminal Creative is an artist collective exploring collaborative practice.

Louise Cole will be working as the Ferens artist in residence at the gallery until May 21 and has been invited to create new work in response to the Rediscovering Ferens exhibition. Liminal Creative will also be working with primary schools in the museum’s membership scheme to deliver a series of practical workshops and teacher-training opportunities.  

Liminal Creative’s work is created around themes of connection and connectivity. They use non-touch creative technology to produce safe interactive and participatory experiences and installations for public space. The collective has a specific focus on accessibility, with offers and considerations made to audiences with complex care needs, learning disabilities and dementia, which enhances the work created for wider audiences.

Liminal Creative will also present their past work, Sirens, at the gallery this spring as part of the residency. Sirens was commissioned by Freedom Festival Arts Trust and created in partnership with Pan Intercultural Arts.

Louise will be working in Gallery 11 and from March 8 will be available to chat to visitors between 11am and 1pm on Wednesdays, except May 3.

Both the exhibition and the artist residency have been supported by Arts Council England.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, Hull City Council portfolio holder for culture said: “The spring offer at the Ferens Art Gallery is particularly strong with a new exhibition and an artist in residence on site at the same time. Both complement each other and offer unique experiences for the public to engage with. I recommend a visit to our stunning gallery this spring.” 

Sorcha Ni Foghluda, community curator at Ferens Art Gallery, said: “We’ve been talking about some really interesting and important issues around identity and are so excited to share our ideas with visitors and the wider community.”

Claire Longrigg, the gallery’s exhibitions officer at Ferens Art Gallery, said: “We are thrilled that artist collective Liminal Creative will be the Ferens Artist in Residence for Spring 2023. We were impressed with Louise’s experience of working collaboratively, and her flexibility when it comes to working with young people and school groups.

“It is exciting to start making plans with Louise on how we can best support her to develop her practice as part of this residency."

Louise Cole said: “I’m excited to have been selected as artist in residence and am eager to start exploring ideas around identity, with a particular focus on heritage and ancestry. Creating a new work specifically for the Ferens will be a great chance to engage with a new audience, one I’m very much looking forward to meeting and speaking to.”