For my research and development towards the project, I
visited the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield to explore two different exhibitions
which included Protest Lab and a permanent collection called “Metalwork”. The permanent
exhibition displayed a series of steelwork pieces and manufacturing processes
which symbolised the local industry of Sheffield known as “Steel City”. The
collection included iconic metal pieces including cutlery, kitchen ware and
dining sets which displayed traditional pieces towards the formal dining
equipment used in history and society. Also, on display included artwork made
from the material generated which symbolised how effective the pieces are to
create sculptures for others to study. It gave me an insight to how Sheffield
became a global figure in the steelworks and demonstrated the progression they
made throughout history to present day. Also, it allowed me to understand the
local industry through a different perspective and see how the material coal
generated the community and lives which is similar to coal-mining in Barnsley. Within
the exhibition displayed women working in the steelworks which was inspiring
for research to see how we contributed to the booming industry during the hard
and suffering times of ww2 and after the war. It was inspiring to see a piece
of artwork displayed within the gallery that was drawing of two steel workers
compared to the stereotyping role of men working in the industrial society. Within the exhibition displayed historical and
biblical pieces created by steel which was striking for me as I felt it
displayed a sense of traditional craftsmanship through society and how the
material could be adapted and developed into a variety of pieces. The displays
included stain glass effects and paintings taken from the bible and I was
pleased to observe a different perspective towards industry and how materials
can be used. Within the exhibition displayed a variety of pieces that were taken
from Victorian period that were intricate and showing progression within the
industrial revolution. This was inspiring to see small, intricate pattern
pieces being placed onto domestic pieces through objects including scissors and
knifes. The most inspiring pieces for me included the Victorian dining
equipment and table display as it gave an insight to how these pieces were used
to symbolise wealth within the formal society and how the industrial material
can be turned into crafts and intricate pieces. Also another piece which
inspired me was animal pieces that have been created through the material which
highlighted the craftsmanship and detail that they displayed. The detail
included fur textures and facial features which was interesting to observe with
the bold choice of line and depth displayed. The steelwork was also seen as a
sense of celebration within the gallery through the variety of trophies and
awards displayed from the chosen material. This reinforced the sense of pride
that the city displays with the material and highlights towards the audience
why they are known as the “Steel City”. Overall, my visit to the Steelworks
collection was interesting as it gave me an insight to how the city was built
up through the industry of steel and how it incorporated so many working class
lives in the factories and society. It was inspiring to see the emphasis of
women working at the steelworks during hard times which emphasises community spirit
and support. However, I didn’t find the exhibition overall inspiring towards
the project because it didn’t display much information towards the process of
how the material is made and how it contributed to the community further. I
found the pieces on display repetitive and didn’t show a sense of variety in
which the material can be used for and developed. I felt more artwork in steel
should be included within the gallery to demonstrate how industry can be
creative and how the material is inspiring. As the gallery was to inform I found
the layout confusing to explore and the display of the steelwork pieces less engaging.
I felt the gallery needed a change of steelwork pieces and how they are
presented because i personally believed the display outlooks were unorganised
and not useful when reading about them. I will be taking this research into
consideration when placing it into my sketchbook as it has allowed me to see a
different perspective of local industry in a different city. However, the
subject of community spirit and pride I believe is maintained throughout the
city and this is the most important aspect when displaying them through exhibitions
and galleries. The gallery gave me an insight to how the material impacted the
community in a positive way and how Sheffield became and iconic city for
booming industry. The city will always be known as “Steel City”.
Protest Lab
Also from my visit to the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield I
visited the exhibition called Protest Lab which is an interactive environment
exploring protests through the decades from historic to modern perspectives. It
was an exhibition with a twist which gave the audience a chance to express
views and thoughts to what the city of Sheffield should display in galleries
for the next two years exploring protest movements. The display wanted you to
say what should be represented in the cities collections for future generations
to observe. The “protest lab” was to
ensure political views, persuasions and thoughts to be expressed in Sheffield’s
history and story. The gallery was set up as a two year project to mark the 100th
anniversary of the “Representation Of The Peoples Act” where the first women
were given the right to vote. The aim of the exhibition to highlight the spirit
of Sheffield and standing up for what you believe in the past but also modern
society. This was one of a series of exhibitions and explored the history of:
·
Radical Press in 1790S
·
Samuel Holberry and Chartism in 1830
·
The Suffragettes
·
Miners’ Strike 1984
·
“Battle Of Orgreave 1984
·
Sheffield Anti-Slavery Society 1827
·
1936- Spanish Civil War and Sheffield Volunteers
to Fight
·
1950- World Peace Congress Sheffield
·
2017- Anti Trump Protests
These were displayed on a time-line and also allowed the
audience to contribute with other historic events to be included onto the
piece. A striking annotation that stood out for me was CND which has been
influential within my Peter Kennard research and analysis. Another event
displayed which moved me that was annotated on the wall was the tragic event
that happened at Hillsborough in which Justice was received many years later to
Liverpool and families who lost lives in the event. This should be emphasised
within the Protest Lab as it is a symbol of Justice received through Liverpool
and how campaigning and never giving up allowed them to gain the truth to what
happened at the event. The time-line is presented below.
Next within the Gallery included a sizes of cabinet that
displayed miniature protests created by adults and children from the exhibition.
It displayed different campaigning events throughout history towards present
day with an unusual subject matter of toys and pieces to capture the striking
movements. The contrasting perspective of the toys were interesting to observe as
the pieces symbolise happiness and childhood which is different than the subject
matter of fighting for justice and freedom. This subject matter made it
engaging within the exhibition as it was a completely new and never seen before
at a personal and serious topic of discussion. The use of toys and cabinets
connects to the audience well as it demonstrates a sense of home and the pride
within community to protect the environment and allow others to understand within
the next generation. From observing the piece I realise it was under stable and
could capture the younger generation to allow them to learn from events which have
occurred and the importance to remember them. I also found the use cabinets and
childhood toys to create the pieces effective as it connects to families and symbolises
the communities with how they joined together for Justice. These miniature displays
allowed the audience to interact and change the toys and subject matter within
the gallery which reinforced the idea that it is the people’s gallery. I was
pleased with the expression of the coal-mining strike and how the city of
Sheffield united together to fight against the government and towns around the
city. The iconic campaign slogans were on display which includes “Coal Not Dole”
and “Truth At Orgreave” which connects to the past but also the fight that is
continued today to gain the truth which occurred at the “Battle Of Orgreave”. It
highlights support and how the communities have joined together with the symbol
of toys. I personally like the contribution of Lego within the design as they
connect to the younger generation further and highlight the community and
people within society. It was also inspiring to see current topics within the displays
which includes the fight to protect the trees which is an on-going justice
campaign. The pieces are demonstrated below.
A strong mind map was on display within the gallery which explored
initial ideas that the exhibition wanted to display with the communities
contribution and support. It was inspiring to observe as I could relate to the
mind map when exploring previous mind maps at the start of the project to
achieve inspiration for my theme and development. I captured a time-lapse video
of the mind map showing progression to achieve the full diagram and it demonstrated
below.
The most significant area in which I found inspirational was
the study the large amount of badges, banners, posters and memorabilia on
display within the exhibition. The banners were suspended on a large scale
above the exhibition which reinforces the importance of pride and reassurance
that the community felt when facing difficult problems and times. This included
a banner promoting a women’s pit camp which was a sense of a holiday for women
involved in the strike who were also facing the equal amount of struggle to the
miners included in the movement. The subject matter gives the display of a
break to the miners and the women to relax and be surrounded by other women
involved in the movement. It supports the community pride and the importance of
looking out for each other. The contrasting colours allow the piece to be engaging
and to inform the community when paced within the industrial environments. As I
have previously observed the piece at the National Coal-Mining museum through a
poster, it was interesting to observe and study how events were promoted and
informed through different aspects and methods. Also on display within the
banners was the subject matter of “Poll Tax” and the “Holberry Society”. As
this research is less useful compared to the miners’ strike tapestry and banner
works, it was interesting to observe the similarities through the choice of
colour, form and fonts used. A strong colour of red is displayed through the
banners which suggests this element was most effective to use to inform the information
when placed in the community environment and marches. Also, the display of
capital letters have been used throughout the banners as from my interpretation
they stand out and become more engaging compared to the correct form of
grammar. The choice of lettering also displays the sense of anger and the
emotions felt through difficult times and subject matters. The foreground of
pieces are emphasised compared to the background elements as simple contrasting
colours are used to inform the important messaging displayed. Monotone colours
are used and displayed to reinforce and inform the details and messages that
the subject matter is presenting.
The reality of the exhibition and the subject matter is highlighted
towards the audience through objects and photographs taken from the events
around the city of Sheffield. It was interesting to see how objects contributed
to the marches to inform society and the community. This included a microphone
taken from the strike movement which was protected and displayed with pride
within the exhibition. It was inspirational to observe the piece as it informs
the importance of the protest and the reality of the movements within the local
community. Personally from observing the pieces, it makes me feel that the
protests are more significant compared to photographs and other aspects taken
from the gallery. It also connects to the industrial aspect well and the
traditional methods of protests which are known in society. A series of
photographs are on display within the gallery which are taken from protest
events which have been captured through black and white imagery. I believe that
these have been taken in this contact to highlight the important foreground imagery
of handmade banners and the people who are involved within the movement. When
observing the imagery I feel that it displayed the emotions and struggles felt
when expressing the campaigns and how each individual felt when an event or
change impacted lives. It was inspiring to see campaigners within the images compared
to the promotion work and memorabilia displayed throughout the gallery.
The main influence taken from the gallery were cabinets
filled with badges, t-shirts, photographs memorabilia and posters. The boxes
contain a variety of protest elements taken from different movements and
campaigns. Specifically on display was a large amount of miners’ strike memorabilia
photographs and T-shits. It was interesting to see a political aspect of the movement
in which is a controversial subject matter through different opinions within society.
The pieces displayed anti-government artwork and taking political figures
through badges, t-shirts and photographs. As the fight in the strike movement
was between the miners and the government and police, it was inspirational to
see how the miners took the fight in a creative way to inform others and
support the side. As it can be seen as controversial this was the subject
matter of the works and this was used to inform the side and how they felt as the
government was destroying industrial lives. As the government were displaying negative
aspects and thoughts of the miners, it was fascinating to see how the miners
thought back and gain further support within the community to change others
opinion of the movement. From observing the cabinets, badges were most effective
way to distribute support as they were worn within society and could be seen through
in everyday life. As they can be mass produced easily it was clearly seen as
the most effective way to show support within the gallery. The reinforced idea
of colours and font are presented again through the badges which has been
reinforced and taken from banner works. The simplicity of colours and letters
bring the information straight to the point and informs others well. An important
subject matter on display which was the event that happened at Orgreave in
which is still a subject matter today. As the miners are wanting to gain the
truth what happened at the event, photographs were displayed in the time but
also today in modern society. The photographs are moving as they are violent
images that attacked the miners which displays the feeling of anger and strong
emotions. However, the moving images are also combined in the cabinets with
support and reassurance from the wide community. An important inspirational
element from observing the pieces were printed t-shirts that were copied from
banners and posters. This distribution of support and information was displayed
well through the t-shirts and engages specific protest artwork which makes the
audience remember the subject matter. I felt this was most inspirational as t-shirts
are worn in everyday society and the artwork is presented in a larger scale compared
to badges. The shirts can be mass produced and distributed effectivity and this
worked well within the movement with a large amount displayed within the gallery
visit. I believe that this will be taken and contributed to my project as my
surface design through screen-printing can be mass produced onto t-shirts. It gave
me ideas that will be influenced through my project and I will be exploring
different colour scheme t-shirts which are similar to the designs observed.
In conclusion, the exhibition was an interactive experience
through contributing to what the gallery should display next with the topic of
protest. It has allowed the audience to consider ideas and thoughts of the
gallery which displays reflection and thoughts. This will support the gallery to
create further information and studies of the exhibition that will be contributing
to the on-going exhibition for the next years. From observing the stickers of
others it as allowed me to see and learn about current subject matters in which
is a point of discussion and should be protesting about. 
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