Exhibition Articles
Art - May 2023
Reynolds 300: Portrait of Frances Reynolds
Many people aren’t aware that famous portrait artist Sir Joshua Reynolds also had a talented sister. Frances Reynolds (1729-1807) was affectionately known as Fanny. She was six years younger than her brother and would have appreciated, perhaps even emulated his artistic talent whilst growing up.
Art - May 2023
Sue Williamson: Monument I and Monument II
This pair of screen prints in artist Sue Williamson's 'Between Memory and Forgetting' exhibition (until 4 June) date from 1981. They mark the beginning of her preoccupation with monuments, and the way in which people in power try to tell and celebrate their stories for future generations.
Press Release - May 2023
Quinlan and Hastings: Mapping the queer landscape
Through their work, Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings explore the history, politics and iconography of queer culture; mapping the queer landscape in a variety of ways that place underrepresented narratives in the spotlight. Explore this in more detail through ‘Gaby’, a 2018 film work that is currently playing in their ‘Portraits’ exhibition.
Art - Apr 2023
Sue Williamson: Colouring In
The basis for this work is a children's colouring in book, the title of which translates to 'My Anglo Boer War Colouring In'. The resulting work mixes the book's original illustrations with archive images, drawing parallels between the oppression suffered by Black South Africans during the Boer War and later under the Apartheid government.
Art - Apr 2023
Quinlan and Hastings: The history of feminism
Through their art, Quinlan and Hastings explore the history of feminism on the political right in the UK, from the Edwardian period to today. Two works within their 'Portraits' exhibition (on display until 4 June 2023) look in detail at this subject.
Art - Apr 2023
‘Friend in my Studio’ by Rose Hilton
Rose Hilton (1931-2019) was the fourth of eight children born to Julia and Robert Phipps in Kent in August 1931. This pink-hued work is called ‘Friend in My Studio’. It was painted in 1978/9 and acquired for Plymouth’s collections in 1979 with the support of the V&A’s Purchase Grant Fund.
Art - Apr 2023
Quinlan and Hastings: Power and space
Through the use of drawings, etchings and films, artist duo Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings produce skilled and thought-provoking work that explores the various forms of authority, power and disorder that exist within our public spaces, and questions how social hierarchy, class, order and obedience are negotiated. Take a look at three works on display in their ‘Portraits’ exhibition (until 4 Jun) to learn more.
Art - Apr 2023
Sue Williamson: A Few South Africans
Created by artist Sue Williamson between 1982 and 1987, when South Africa was firmly under the grip of apartheid, 'A Few South Africans' is a series of mixed media portraits featuring some of the many women who made an impact on the country’s liberation struggle. Here, we look at them in more detail.
Press Release - Mar 2023
Castor and Pollux Dish
This large purple dish with a design that features two figures is inspired by a beautiful Greek myth. Make sure you take a look at it when you visit our 'People and Place: Art Collection Showcase'.
Art - Mar 2023
'Fishing Boat, St Ives' by Margo Maeckelberghe
Margo Maeckelberghe (1932-2014) was born Margo Try in Penzance. She studied at Penzance School of Art and then at Bath School of Art, both of which were thriving artistic environments. This work is titled ‘Fishing Boat, St Ives’ and was acquired for Plymouth’s fine art collection in 1967.
Art - Mar 2023
Sue Williamson: All Our Mothers
‘All Our Mothers’ is an ongoing series of portraits of women that began as a photographic archive documenting the turmoil within early 1980s South Africa. The work was revisited in 2012 - as were some of the women who were involved in the liberation struggle - with new portrait photography.
Press Release - Mar 2023
International Women's Day: Top Ten
In honour of this year's International Women's Day, here's a female-themed 'top ten' for you to look out for next time you visit The Box.