Bluecoat visit

After a brisk wander down to the Bluecoat gallery, I was surprised to be welcomed into work by Jade Montserrat, a previous visiting artist who’s lecture I had attended and blogged about. Although I was not particularly intrigued by it in the lecture, the work is much more effect in person, almost looming over you as you enter the gallery space. As always, her work is not just exhibited but also performed and is engaged on reinventing the view of black bodies, with a clear focus on protection, care, positioning and preservation. ‘Instituting Care’ is a good installation by Montserrat; I have always admired monochrome work, as that’s usually what I use myself, so although I can’t relate to Montserrat on a personally level, I felt mildly connected to this work through her technique and palette.

I’ve always loved the Bluecoat, as a small independent space, with its various fairs and installations, so it was great to visit again. This time with the most viewed room (as you’re able to see in it from the street outside) exhibiting ‘The Art Schools of North West England’, I was able to really invest myself. As a past student of one of Liverpool’s art colleges, and now attending John Moore’s in their arts buildings, I felt like this exhibition really reached out to me. Put me in their shoes. Gave me a story within the photography. A few years ago I was a keen photographer myself, and I always enjoy seeing photographic exhibitions making it into art galleries as part of the acknowledge work, as it is a difficult thing to connect to, until you find that common connection.

Definitely going back to the Bluecoat soon, as we were quite rushed round and I’d love to take more time to really look at the work available and read more into the artists’ statements.