Coventry Biennial Announces Programme for its 4th Edition Opening October 2023

Clémence Lollia Hilaire, “The silt has risen from the ocean floor and overturned everything”, Still from Moving Image, 2023. Courtesy of Clémence Lollia Hilaire

Coventry Biennial 2023
… like a short cut through the brambles
October 6, 2023 – January 14, 2024
http://www.coventrybiennial.com

…like a shortcut through the brambles, presents the work of 15
different artists and groups, explores humankind’s relationship to the natural world.

Today Coventry Biennial launches the full programme for its 4th iteration, taking place from 6 October 2023 – 14 January 2024.

Titled …like a shortcut through the brambles, the Biennial is curated by Ryan Hughes, Anneka French, and Dr Ian
Sergeant with support from Emily Gardner and curators from partner venues across the region.

Presenting in art galleries and historic buildings, the fourth Coventry Biennial investigates our relationship to the world around us. The programme brilliantly illuminates avenues for cultural engagement, offering exhibitions, events, and renewed opportunities for participation to UK audiences.

The chosen artists cover a wide range of themes and mediums, spanning from portraiture and sculptural installations to the innovative realm of urban gardens. Midlands-based Janet Tryner, Jo Gane, Paul Lemmon, and Ania Bas are joined by international artists Dinh Q. Lê, A History of Frogs, Can Altay and Clémence Lollia Hilaire amongst others.

…like a shortcut through the brambles takes its title from a line by Coventry-based poet, Antony Owen, suggesting the risk and excitement inherent in the act of exploration. Visitors will be invited to engage with thought-provoking enquiries about
belonging, protest, and survival in a complex world.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore Coventry’s waterways, attend creative writing workshops and share their ideas on what the future of the city may look like through collaborative art-pieces. Further highlights include a film screening by a Turner Prize nominated artist, guided tours on foot and by bike, and arts-and-crafts workshops. The events programme primarily operates on a “Pay What You Can”
basis. This allows for free access to tickets while also enabling audiences to contribute based on their individual capacities.

Alongside a diverse range of events for visitors of all ages, Coventry Biennial will also present a selection of industry-focused events. These include Critical Curating, a conference organised by Carolina Rito (Coventry University) in collaboration with the European Artistic Research Network. Additionally, Transformations, an academic conference organised by the University of Warwick will investigate how artists and researchers exchange and develop ideas, knowledge, and practice in ways that are mutually transformative.

Ryan Hughes, Artistic Director and CEO, Coventry Biennial said:

“We’re delighted to be announcing the programme for the fourth iteration of Coventry Biennial.

It takes several years to develop each of our Biennial programmes, and this moment, where we can share all of the work that we’ve been doing with artists, curators and galleries from the region, across the UK and from around the world is always really exciting!

Included in this years Biennial are many opportunities for getting involved in making art, trying new creative activities and exploring the city and surrounding area.”

Reflecting on the co-created, participatory process of making her artwork, local artist Jo Gane who will be exhibiting at Compton Verney comments:

“It has been great to be supported by Coventry Biennial and Compton Verney to make new portraits in Nuneaton and Bedworth, the wealth of stories that people have shared throughout the project have taught me a lot about our local history and also illuminated what I knew from living in the area about what the place means to people.

I’d like to thank all the people who came forward to have portraits made for being so warm and welcoming in sharing their memories which made the project such a pleasure to work on. The project has also highlighted a wealth of artistic activity in
Nuneaton and has made me aware of arts and heritage organisations doing great work on our doorstep.”

Venues:

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum:
One part of a major new group exhibition that is presented across two sites including significant newly commissioned artworks and existing projects on loan from national collections.

Old Grammar School:
The second part of a major new group exhibition that is presented across two sites including artworks that make innovative use of non-traditional spaces in this Grade I listed city centre building.

Delia Derbyshire (Coventry University):
A solo exhibition presenting a moving image artwork by Amsterdam-based artist Clémence Lollia Hilaire that explores sargassum seaweed and the impacts that it has on lives and livelihoods in the Caribbean.

Compton Verney:
A solo exhibition of new co-created artworks by Nuneaton-based artist and researcher Jo Gane that explores early photographic processes and techniques and their relationships to people and the environment.

Mead Gallery:
We are pleased to be supporting the Mead Gallery’s presentation of Phantom Sculpture curated by Thomas Ellmer and Sarah Shalgosky which is taking place alongside Coventry Biennial 2023.

Coventry Biennial 2023 artists:
A History of Frogs, Can Altay, Ania Bas, Phoebe Boswell, Alice Channer, Jo Gane, Clémence Lollia Hilaire, Seungwon Jung, Yva Jung, Dinh Q. Lê, Paul Lemmon and Graeme Macdonald, Rene Matić, Mothers Who Make and Alice Wood, Jem Southam, Janet Tryner.

Funders and Partner organisations:
Arts Council England, University of Warwick, Coventry University, Coventry City Council, British Council, Artangel, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Compton Verney

Arcade, Arts Council Collection, Coventry Cultural River Consortium, Freelands Foundation, Ikon Youth Programme, Midlands 4 Cities, Nuneaton Library and Information Centre, SpaceX, Screening Right Film Festival, Warwick Arts Centre, Warwickshire County Council

Discover the full programme: https://www.coventrybiennial.com/