Hyper-real post-apocalyptic beauty comes to Southampton City Art Gallery

18 May 2018

A new exhibition, Pillars of Dawn from celebrated, new media artist Kelly Richardson, opens 24 May 2018 at Southampton City Art Gallery, in collaboration with Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art.

Taking cues from 19th-century painting, 20th-century cinema, and 21st-century planetary research, acclaimed Vancouver Island based artist Kelly Richardson crafts prints and videos that offer imaginative glimpses into the future which prompt a careful consideration of the present. For over a decade, Richardson has made works which speculate on what lies ahead given our current trajectory, often by imagining sublime, apocalyptic landscapes that have become inhospitable to humanity.

Exhibiting across two galleries, Pillars of Dawn presents us with a scenario seemingly from the near future, in which all of our points of orientation are placed in doubt. The works ask us not only ‘how did we get here?’ or ‘what have we done?’ but ‘what have we become?’ and ‘what can we do – collectively?’ For Richardson, there can be no more urgent a set of questions.

Councillor Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure said,

“We are delighted to have such an inspiring and internationally renowned artist as Kelly Richardson at Southampton City Art Gallery. It’s great for arts and culture in the Southampton and for the Art Gallery’s profile, but her dramatic and powerful works also provides a fantastic opportunity to engage with such a diverse audience. I hope local residents and visitors alike, take this exciting opportunity to enjoy this incredible exhibition.”

Dan Matthews, Lead Exhibitions Officer for Southampton Arts & Heritage Service added,

“The desire by national collections to represent her work in their permanent collections – Arts Council Collection, the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC, the National Gallery of Canada, alongside other world-leading museums such as Albright-Knox Art Gallery – is testimony to her abilities”.

Pillars of Dawn is a touring exhibition organised by Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, and is supported by Arts Council England, Newcastle University Institute of Arts Creative Practice, Southampton City Council and the National Trust.

Dates:

Southampton City Art Gallery                        26 May – 6 Oct

Seaton Delaval Hall, National Trust               26 May – 15 July

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art          27 Oct – 2 Dec

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