Heritage: Image and History,
Impressions Gallery
and York City Art Gallery
June 16 – July 21,
1990
© Victor Sloan
Until quite
recently there was only one way of ordering events, only one way of
arranging artefacts, and only one voice to describe the past. There
was only one history. But today British history is being challenged.
History has become the battle ground where debated around national
identity, methods of teaching, and ideas about the authentic are
being fought. These conflicts are symptomatic of major changes
taking place in Britain.
The development
towards a post-industrial society with the service sector playing a
more important role economically, Britain’s declining international
role in world affairs, coupled with the crisis of modernity in the
western world have helped to create the climate where previous held
ideas on history have come into question.
These changes have
assisted in bringing to the forefront the issue of diversity,
raising questions on race, gender, class and regionalism. Previously
neglected areas of the past are now being brought into view. One
outcome of this questioning has been the beginnings of a critique on
the role of the heritage industry in contemporary culture.
New work has been
commissioned from artists and photographers to look at the growing
heritage industry in Britain. The exhibition features the work of
Denis Doran, Graham Evans, Stephen Farthing, Lubaina Himid, John
Kippin, Karen Knorr, Alison Marchant, Ingrid Pollard, Paul Reas,
Bill Sharp, Posy Simmons, Victor Sloan and Peter Turley.
This exhibition can
be seen as an extension of the museum, but one which recognises the
diversity of culture, of visions, of life. One which can question
its own rhetoric. This exhibition might be the first if this kind of
museum, temporal, ever-changing, making space for other voices,
never allowing the dust to settle, and always engaging with the
present.
Part of this
exhibltion is being simultaneously at the York City Art Gallery,
Exhibition Square.
An extensive 40
page catalogue with colour and b/w reproductions is available to
accompany the exhibition. This features essays by Graham Coster,
Gaby Porter and Jessica Saraga.
Monday – Saturday,
10-5pm
Sunday, 2.30-5pm
Last admission, 4.30pm
Admission
Free
The exhibition is a
joint touring exhibition between Cornerhouse in Manchester
and Impressions.
Funded by the Arts
Council and Yorkshire Arts
Telephone: 08450
515 882
Fax: 01274 734 635
Email: enquiries@impressions-gallery.com
Website:
www.impressions-gallery.com |
