Artist residency in Mid Pennine Gallery

[Arty lady]

Alan Birch
Mid Pennine Gallery
Tuesday, 5th February 2008, 10am – 4pm

As part of his solo exhibition, Mid Pennine Gallery is proud to present an opportunity to meet the artist Alan Birch and learn more about his work and art practice. Visitors are welcome to drop in and view the exhibition at their leisure on Tuesday 5th February between 10am – 4pm. Alan will be talking to visitors and working on prints in situ in the gallery. The event is free and is open to all.

Alan’s exhibition is based on the series of 83 etchings produced by Goya from 1810 to 1814. The prints illustrate mans inhumanity and barbarity to each other in times of better and widespread conflict. The disasters are a general indictment of warfare and its tragic consequences for the individual, where the abandonment of reason and the disappearance of sense are to the forefront.

As a homage to Goya, Birch has retained the original titles and image sizes, using them to record and document the period from September 11th, 2001 to the present day. Using modern technologies and access to media images, to which we all have unlimited access, Birch has sought to give an unbiased overview of the period leading up to and beyond the US led invasion or Iraq conflict. Some are all too familiar, leaving an indelible memory, whilst others are hidden on the internet the everyday weapons of brutal combat found in Goya’s prints have been replicated and enhanced with the products of modern technology, less visible but equally destructive. The low tech combatant now looks to destructive 21st century technologies, smart bombs, laser-guided missiles and semtex.

Seen as a series these prints tell the story of the evolving conflict, one which is unfortunately far from over and cause the view to reflect on future decisions.

For more information contact Gayle Knight, Marketing Officer at Mid Pennine Arts, on 01282 421986, or email gayle@midpenninearts.org.uk