Liverpool artists will see their work showcased at an exhibition at The Tetley Art Centre in Leeds.
The exhibition includes work by Hanna Gwynn, self-described Scouse comic artist and illustrator and Liverpool filmmaker and photographer, Yasmin Ali, including Leeds-based Linnet Panashe Rubaya and Simone Yasmin. The exhibition provides an opportunity for early-career artists to extend their practices. Themes include racial justice, feminism, sisterhood and the meaning of home.
The exhibition provides a platform to respond to the work on display and sits alongside an archive of ROOT-ed Zines, dating back to 2018. It also invites artists to contribute to a free, limited, zine published towards the end of the show, amplifying the practices of Northern artists.
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Hannah told the ECHO: "Comics have always been part of my life, from the Beano, Dandy, manga and webcomics. Comics and illustrations I thought were far flung and unattainable, are actually grounded in mundane scenes from the artist's life, made me realise the value of the familiar and start to embrace 'local flavour' in my work.
"There's a lot of humour specific to Liverpool that can be lost by going too generic. Most of my art and comics come from a personal place, or for the enjoyment of the act of creating".
"Comics are a longer standing art form than often assumed, throughout a lot of cultures and histories. Telling and reading stories that may have been overlooked and sharing stories in more accessible formats is a very particular joy I encourage others to embrace".
Yasmin's film 'GURI' (home or house in Somali) explores identity. It features a woman, in traditional Somali dress, retracing her steps across iconic Liverpool landmarks, including the Liver Buildings.
Yasmin said: "As a Black, Scouse, Somali, Muslim woman, the idea of 'home' has always been a bit of a blur. I hope 'GURI' will give viewers space to think about who they are and what home means to them.
"I've traditionally filmed and taken portraits of other people but GURI is the first project where I turned the camera around and asked myself those questions. Who am I and what does home mean to me?
"I've always loved film and photography and can remember picking up a camera from a young age. I'd take pictures of everything, and film, not entirely knowing what to do but somehow really enjoying it".
"I've always wanted to capture moments and tell stories. I've combined my love for writing, film and photography and primarily work in those mediums. I'm constantly trying to learn and express myself through other mediums.
The exhibition entitled 'Retrospect, Reality, Reform' is at The Tetley Art Centre in Leeds and is curated by ROOT-ed Zine it runs until January 23, 2023.
ROOT-ed Zine was formed in 2017 with a commitment to supporting artists of colour Co-founder, Fauziya Johnson said: "We're continually motivated by artists within the North and surrounding areas. They’re the driving force in change within the arts and changing it for the better".
The exhibition is part of The Tetley Jerwood Commissions programme, supported by Jerwood Arts’ Development Programme Fund. For information visit: Here or follow ROOT-ed Zine on Facebook or @rootedzine on Instagram.
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