• Art After Turner

Young People Work With Professional Artist To Create Art Show In Response To The Works Of The Great English Artist J.M.W. Turner

A new, contemporary art show, #ArtAfterTurner, created by local young and emerging artists has recently opened its doors at the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery in Basingstoke.

Inspired by Hampshire Cultural Trust’s recent major exhibition, Turner and the Sun, art students from the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art and Basingstoke College of Technology have come together over the last eight weeks with professional artist James Aldridge. Together they have created new work in response to paintings of the sun by the great artist.

Funded by Arts Council England, this is the first time the museum has brought together a group of young people to respond creatively to one of HCT’s major exhibitions. The opportunity has given them a real insight into the demands and challenges of working as a professional artist, with the reward being their first professional standard show within an important, high profile gallery.

Contemporary visual artist Aldridge, who has also been commissioned to create new work in response to paintings by Turner, has provided the group with insight and support as they embark on their own creative journey. The end result promises to be a bold and varied mix of art forms, including film, photography and textiles.

Beth Gibbs, a student from Winchester School of Art, commented: “It has been an amazing and insightful experience working with this group and we have all had a lot of fun producing the work that is on display at the exhibition. The collaboration between artist, student and museum has been an exciting combination that every individual has taken a lot out of. We have all learned new processes and been able to teach other about our own.”

Rebecca Starkiss, Course Director for Art and Design at Basingstoke College of Technology, said "This collaborative project has been an amazing opportunity for our students to develop their artistic skills and gain first-hand experience of working within the creative industry. They have benefited hugely from valuable support and insight from artist, James Aldridge."

#ArtAfterTurner runs at the Willis Museum until 24 February. To find out more about the young people’s process in bringing the show together, follow them at @Artafterturner on Instagram. Watch the video from the exhibition launch.

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