We’ve had the pleasure of hosting a number of inspirational and innovative exhibitions from a range of international artists in the PAC Galleries this year – we caught up with our staff and volunteers to hear their thoughts on which pieces really stood out for them.
One exhibition in particular was overwhelmingly popular with both the Plymouth Arts Centre team and gallery visitors… Land/Sea from Mike Perry.
Land/Sea included selected groups of work from Perry’s series Môr Plastig (Welsh for ‘plastic sea’), in which the artist collects and forensically photographs plastic objects such as bottles, shoes and packaging washed up on the beaches of West Wales. Perry’s work engages with significant and pressing environmental issues, in particular the fragility of the planet’s ecosystems (be that land or marine), and the tension between human activity and interventions in the natural environment.
Our staff and volunteers said, “An interesting take on highlighting the effect that human rubbish has on the environment. It inspired some of my final project at university regarding presentation of work. It was a genuinely interesting exhibition from a friendly artist.”… “It really engaged with the marine plastic pollution theme”… “I loved the materials used”… “Mike Perry brought the exhibition to the visitors attention in a very artistic way and made you think what more could you do for the environment”… “Plastic and nature collided”… “Its forensic style investigation into plastic pollution in our oceans was such an eye opener, and so topical for 2017. My new year’s resolution is to do a #minibeachclean every time I visit the seaside.“
The runners-up…
With a range of Gallery in the Cinema artist films, Gallery exhibitions and artist talks and events, the visual arts calendar has been jam packed during 2017. Here is a selection of exhibitions which caught our eye through the year…
Astro Raggi from Megan Broadmeadow – “Disco fun and interactive”… “The children I worked with were entranced. The lights, the sound, the installation all added to a multi-sensory experience that captivated and excited the young minds of the children that come to our workshops, and ignited their parents imaginations of their adults too! Loved it.”
Finding Fanon from David Blandy and Larry Achiampong – “I am a fan of CGI, have done some 3D modelling on screen myself in my profession, and being able to sit in close up to a wall sized animation on my own and just marvel at the level of detail is enough for me, without having to analyse the philosophy or psychology.”
Systems for Saying It from Ciara Phillips – “The interactivity of the exhibition was great”… “How exciting to have a Turner Prize nominee working with local groups to produce this exhibition, it was a pleasure to see the work evolve.”
Materials of Resistance from Clare Thornton – “I really enjoyed seeing the ceramics aspect of the exhibition”… “Textures and thoughtful details adorn the walls of the galleries at every turn”
Materials of Resistance is available to view in the PAC Galleries until Saturday 20 January 2018, and will be followed by the Looe Street Detectives, an exploration of the history, heritage and significance of Plymouth Arts Centre site.
Votes were cast and quotes provided by the team at Plymouth Arts Centre – with thanks to Manon Le Tual, Charlotte McGuinness, Kat Peberdy, Mason Craig, Sue Fisher, Flora, Lesley, Kathy Wray, Sam, Lolita, Maria Gammon, Dan Sealey, Pete Rozycki and Hannah Pollard.
