Arts charity Outside In, which provides a platform for artists who encounter significant barriers to the art world, is launching a virtual version of its sixth National Open exhibition ‘Humanity’ online from 27 April, prior to further touring the physical exhibition across the UK from August 2023.
The virtual show has been created from a 3D scan using Matterport software, which captured the exhibition when it launched at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries in January 2023, enabling the transformation of the real-life space into an immersive, virtual experience.
Humanity is the sixth National Open exhibition organised by the charity, which was established in 2006 to assist artists encountering significant barriers due to health, disability, social circumstance and isolation. The national call-out attracted over 500 entries and over half of the works on show are by artists who have never exhibited with Outside In before and many of whom will have never previously exhibited their work. Images of all submitted work will also be shown alongside the 80 selected pieces.
This year, shortlisted works were judged by the celebrated artist Bob and Roberta Smith, following in the footsteps of previous judges including Grayson Perry and Cathie Pilkington. ‘Old Bands’ by Michelle Roberts was awarded first prize and ‘Ophelia’ by Gail Henderson and ‘RNLI Saves Refugees’ by Ian Barnes were selected as runners up. Winning artist Michelle Roberts will have her own solo exhibition in 2024.
There has never been a time in recent history where the theme of humanity has had such direct relevance to the world in which we are living. The challenges posed by environmental change, war, the global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have left us to consider what it is to be a human and how to behave humanely. Outside In artists have interpreted humanity from a wide variety of perspectives, both personal and global, and include paintings and drawings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, film and performance pieces.
The frailty of the human condition and the sterling services of NHS workers informs Simon Le Boggit’s ‘Kidney Stone Henge’, a micro-sculpture constructed from the artist’s own kidney stones, whilst Jane Athron’s ‘This Is England 2021’ darkly references a country on the edge of apocalypse and Gayatri Parischa’s ‘KaPaa’ mirrors Kali the Destroyer against Parvati the Creator. Ivan Steven’s ‘Irstev’ is concerned with the Pandemic, whilst both Fran Orallo’s film ‘Persona Non Grata’ and Samuel McGann’s ‘Deep In Though’ are both made in response to the war in the Ukraine.
Masks and skulls are a recurrent theme in work of Straiph Wilson, Kathryn Moores and Billy Weston. Anya Ward’s ‘Sanctuary and the Hunt’ addresses the crisis of homelessness whilst Sophie Valeix’s ‘Common Humanity’ recognises suffering as a common element in the human experience and makes a plea for compassion. Sajida Asif’s ‘This Hijabi Can – Nadiya Hussain’ celebrates in collage form a great human being who has succeeded in the face of adversity and Mark Pearson’s ‘Friendly Face’ exudes warmth and empathy. Meg Mosley’s film ‘Dis(content)’, Luc(e) Reasmith’s ‘Someone’s Honey’ and Marilyn Henderson’s ‘I Can See You In Me’ question how we see both ourselves and others and the process of portraiture in the era of the selfie and celebrity culture.
Frances Christie, formerly Deputy Chairman, Sotheby’s UK & Ireland, comments: “Sotheby's was thrilled to welcome Outside In back to New Bond Street. The charity provides instrumental support to those artists who are often overlooked and we couldn't have been more excited to provide a platform to showcase their enormous talent in our galleries.”
Outside In’s founder and Director, Marc Steene comments: “The learning and insight into the human condition that this exhibition provides is profound, all the more so for coming from artists not often given centre stage. It illustrates the incredible creativity and wisdom that is on offer if we look beyond the boundaries of convention.”
Guest artist and 2023 judge Bob and Roberta Smith, whose exhibition ‘Thamesmead Codex’ is showing at Tate Modern until May 2023, says: “Outside In does important work with artists and I was thrilled to be a guest judge at this year’s National Open. When judging the submitted artworks, I was looking out for great stories and colours, intense drawing and musical shapes. The thing I take away from this exhibition is integrity - the integrity of the artist’s voice, to want to say something. You get this incredible dialogue going on which is so sincere and direct, refreshing and deeply honest.”
The virtual version of ‘Humanity’ is available to view at https://outsidein.org.uk/national from 27 April 2023.
The physical exhibition will be touring to Project Ability in Glasgow from 12 August – 16 September (www.project-ability.co.uk) and to Hove Museum of Creativity from 24 November 2023 – 31 January 2024 (www.brightonmuseums.org.uk ).
