Grey Unpleasant Land at Spike Island

Just before we hit Christmas, it feels like a nice last opportunity to get a Contemporary Art Bath & Bristol event scheduled in. And where better than at our regular haunt, Spike Island, which is currently showing a magnificent exhibition of work by Sophia Al-Maria and Lydia Ourahmane.

'Grey Unpleasant Land' examines the myth of England as a nation. Combining a range of media—including historical artefacts, speculative narratives, petitions to patrons and a deed of gift—Al-Maria and Ourahmane provide a unique lens through which to investigate the complex and often troubling nature of England’s cultural and historical landscape.

Please do RSVP and I can't wait to see you there!

*Please note: It now costs £300 a year for organisers like me to run MeetUp groups, so while this group is free to attend, please consider giving a donation to support the group's running if you enjoy these events/enjoyed this event. Thank you, Dominic
Support the group here

About the exhibition:
Produced over the course of two years, the exhibition addresses the elephant in the room. As immigrants to the UK, Al-Maria and Ourahmane delve into the “grey areas” of England’s narrative, critically re-examining the stories that have been told—and continue to be told—about origins and belonging.

Together through this ambitious exhibition, Al-Maria and Ourahmane address England’s cultural narratives and social frameworks, inviting audiences to consider the malleability of national identity and the ongoing debates surrounding Britain’s legacy as a nation.

Event details:
12pm: We'll meet at The Orchard Inn, nearby to Spike Island. Please arrive at any point over the hour.

1pm: We'll head into the gallery and congregate in the reception/lobby area before heading around the exhibition and space. Spike Island usually deliver a talk for us as a group, so I'll push for this as always.

2:30pm: We'll gather at the entrance and head back to The Orchard Inn to sit down and have a chat about the exhibition.

Before the event:
You'll receive a MeetUps message ahead of the event letting you know on any updates to the event, so make sure you check this before coming along.

What to bring:
A notebook if you want to write down your thoughts.

Preparation:
Extra marks for anyone who does some research on the exhibition.

Etiquette:
As always, if you can't make it just send a message to let me know and take your name off the RSVP list.

Cost:
The meetup is free to attend, and the exhibition is free too, but please do consider supporting the running costs of this group, which are over £300 a year, by donating on the PayPal link here:
Support the group here

Health & Safety:
If you are feeling unwell, please do not attend the event (just send me a message if you could).

See you there!
Dom

(If you need to contact me if you're going to be late or can't find us, please use the MeetUps messenger app or message me on 07889789965).