Exhibition: Being Present showcases artists collaborative works at Bethlem Gallery

Bethlem Gallery have developed a new exhibition which showcases the collaborative works of paired artists.

Being Present was developed as an antidote to the isolation of the pandemic and allowed the artists to share their artistic methods and create new work together.

The exhibition, running from February 1 to May 23 features paintings, collages, photography, sculptures and performance works.

Sophie Leighton, director of Bethlem Gallery said: “During the pandemic lockdowns we wanted to find a way to support artists to engage in meaningful dialogue and share the challenges of working, communicating and developing relationships remotely. The artworks shown in Being Present are a successful and direct response to the experiences of lockdown in many ways.

“All the artists embraced the opportunity to connect with another artist, and generously share their practice, while working together in very different ways, with each artist telling us how their practice has positively shifted in this process.”

Among this portfolio of collaborative work is Michelle Baharier and Chris Lewis-Jones’ Teatime Presence which explores themes of presence and well-being.

The artists will serve tea to visitors at Bethlem Gallery, all of which are named after psychological conditions, such as anxietea and hostilitea.

Fatma Durmush and Jo Wheeler harnessed their different artistic mediums, photography and painting, to examine childhood memories and dreams.

Jo Wheeler said: “The contrast between our practices was what became really interesting for me, making work that combined Fatma’s expressive mark-making and personal narratives with my camera’s more formal, conscious observations. I think some interesting, unexpected things materialised as we swapped the work back and forth.”

Website: https://bethlemgallery.com/whats-on/being-present

Picture: Roger Suckling, Haptic ID (still) Picture: Bethlem Gallery and Primary, Nottingham