ACTS OF UNION
2024
We have been living in an era of revivalism’, wrote David Egerton in the Guardian in late June 2022, speaking specifically of
revived notions of a [Great] Global Britain. From Brexit to hard borders, echoes of Rule Britannia have been ringing out loud and proud — political discourse, left and right alike, evoking visions of a ‘buccaneering’ Britain, here to steer us through the choppy deterioration of public services, culture wars, cost of living crises and rising far-right extremism.
Convenient flag-wave aside, when is it finally time to ask, who exactly is the fallacy of the United Kingdom actually serving? Referencing the Acts of Union that created the Parliament of Great Britain in 1707, this exhibition stands as a point of rupture against nationalism, state sovereignty, imperialist legacy and political populism.
Featuring works spanning photography, sculpture, textiles and moving image, this show brings together 14 emerging artists — with works that engage critically with what it means to live, work and sow new seeds of national identity against the backdrop of a post-Brexit, divided, binary Britain.
Participating artists
Beverley Duckworth, Jody Evans & Dalia Araby, A. Howard, AC Larsen, Dave McCorry, Joseff Morgan, Timothy Ogu, Isobel Scarsbrook, Clara Scullion, Alexandra Warren, Rosalind Wilson, Charlie Yetton, Samuel Zhang
In partnership with Hypha Studios, Netil House & Eat Work Art. With thanks to support by Goldsmiths Exhibitions Hub.
Convenient flag-wave aside, when is it finally time to ask, who exactly is the fallacy of the United Kingdom actually serving? Referencing the Acts of Union that created the Parliament of Great Britain in 1707, this exhibition stands as a point of rupture against nationalism, state sovereignty, imperialist legacy and political populism.
Featuring works spanning photography, sculpture, textiles and moving image, this show brings together 14 emerging artists — with works that engage critically with what it means to live, work and sow new seeds of national identity against the backdrop of a post-Brexit, divided, binary Britain.
Participating artists
Beverley Duckworth, Jody Evans & Dalia Araby, A. Howard, AC Larsen, Dave McCorry, Joseff Morgan, Timothy Ogu, Isobel Scarsbrook, Clara Scullion, Alexandra Warren, Rosalind Wilson, Charlie Yetton, Samuel Zhang
In partnership with Hypha Studios, Netil House & Eat Work Art. With thanks to support by Goldsmiths Exhibitions Hub.
Installation images from ACTS OF UNION, 2024, Hypha Studios
Clara Scullion, Stop calling me resilient, 2021, Giclée prints on Hahnemüle Photo Rag, Installation shot
Beverley Duckworth, Raze, 2023, Discarded clothes, binder
A. Howard, Soothsayer, 2023, T-shirts, mountboard, ribbon
Samuel Zhang, In The Place Where We Left And Arrived, 2023, Single-channel video, 20 mins 25 seconds, Installation shot
AC Larsen, Bacon Butty, 2024, Fake King Charles III £50, bank notes, Kingsmill sliced white bread, Gold plated Cuban Chain, paper plate, Vintage wine table, Installation shot
Rosalind Wilson, Toffee, Hornet, Lioness, 2022, Weetabix box, acrylic paint, gold leaf, cross stitch. embroidery, gaffa tape, found objects
Jody Evans & Dalia Araby, Pervert*, 2022, Framed silver gelatin print
Alexandra Warren, Trail plate ii, 2024, Glazed earthenware