Exhibition Articles
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.
Art - Feb 2023
Sue Williamson: The importance of remembering
In the ‘Between Memory and Forgetting’ exhibition (on display until 4 June), one of the questions artist Sue Williamson asks is who is honoured in times of conflict? She explores this through the lens of South Africa, the country with the turbulent history she’s called home for most of her life, but it’s a question that is universally relevant.
Press Release - Feb 2023
Hakutai (A Thousand Years)
Japan has a distinct and varied culture that blends age-old traditions with cutting-edge technology and creativity, and this object which you can see in our 'People and Place: Art Collection Showcase' exhibition is a very modern work which has been made using an ancient technique.
Press Release - Feb 2023
Recycle, reuse, repurpose
There’s a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes at The Box to reduce our carbon footprint and minimise the impact we have on the environment. It’s a long road, but one we’re fully committed to travelling along, and we’re hoping to share much more with you about it in the coming months.