Material Matters
Material Matters was on display at Sunny Bank Mills Gallery, Leeds, 12th June to 1st August 2021.
Traditionally, stone, metal, clay, and wood were carved, moulded, and cast to make sculpture. Material Matters explored how artists working today use, adapt or manipulate traditional materials or processes to make contemporary sculptural work. All of the artists considered the role of craft in sculpture and the exciting juxtapositions that materials can initiate. The exhibition featured work by Rhian Cooke, Hannah Robson, Ian Jackson, Connor Shields, Bijan Amini-Alavijeh, Katrina Cowling, Clare Holdstock, Dominic Hopkinson, Becca Macdonald, Julia McKinlay, Laura Porter, James Thompson, Jane Walkley, Mary Watson, and Lee Mok Yee, with artist films by Zoe East (Opal Video).
Material Matters was accompanied by a new catalogue featuring artist interviews, essays, images, and a new poem by the artist Stephen Harvey. As well as a series of sculpture focussed workshops, and an artist research residency (Jenny Handley) in collaboration with the Sunny Bank Mills Archive.
The project was made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England.
Images included here by Harry Meadley and Jo Crawford for SBM.