Reflection: British Art In An Age Of Change Rethinking Civil Society

Event details

17 August 2019 – 5 January 2020
Ferens Art Gallery, Hull

This major partnership exhibition features over 120 artworks. They are drawn jointly from the Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art, and the Ferens collection.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy important artworks new to Hull, in conversation with existing highlights from the local collection. A number of Ferens works are rarely seen treasures, including watercolours, prints and drawings less often on public display due to their fragility to light.

Reflection presents a dynamic and diverse vision of Britain and British art, which asks questions about identity and belonging. What does it mean to be British? How do we define British art? How do we present ourselves to the world?

Some of the artists were born in Britain and travelled elsewhere through choice or necessity; others were born elsewhere and travelled here. Some artists worked a hundred years ago; others are just starting on their careers.

Visitors are invited to reflect on and celebrate a century of creative achievement by those whose loves, fears, doubts and dreams are expressed through their painting, drawing, sculpture, print, collage, photography and video.

Artists in the exhibition include: Graham Dean, Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth, David Hockney, Henry Moore, Bridget Riley, Eric Ravilious, Victoria Sin, and Gillian Wearing.

We also spoke to the exhibition’s curator, James Russell, to ask for his thoughts on the place of art in a civilised society.