Karl Blossfeldt: Art Forms in Nature, Midlands Art Centre
Offering an opportunity to witness an exemplary set of the artist’s signature close-up images of plants and flora, this exhibition presents 40 photogravures from Blossfeldt’s original 1932 portfolio entitled ‘Wundergarten der Natur’.
Highly celebrated in the late 1920s amongst early Modernists and Surrealists, Blossfeldt (1865-1932) was a German photographer best known for his close-up photographs of plants and flowers. He is considered to be one of the defining photographers of the twentieth century.
Throughout his career, Blossfeldt is known to have developed his own homemade cameras that enabled the photography of plant surfaces in unprecedented levels of detail – up to 30 times their natural size. He was the pioneer of an artistic style that fused “scientific observation, sculptural form and surreal composition”, encouraging the pursuit of new directions in art and photography.
Ongoing until 20th August.
Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH
Ed Webb-Ingall: A Bedroom for Everyone, Grand Union
A Bedroom for Everyone features a newly-commissioned animation by filmmaker Ed Webb-Ingall, the result of a long-term body of work that explores the role of filmmaking and the arts in response to the UK’s ongoing housing crisis. The script was written in collaboration with members of housing and migrant-support groups from Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool, London and Birmingham, exploring the power of grassroots activism in the face of this crisis – while equally exploring spaces such as community centres and meeting halls, where this work takes place.
The project has been in development since 2019, where it began as Forming a Resident’s Association, a research group made up of housing activists from Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool and Nottingham. Responding to the housing struggles in their respective cities, the group came together monthly to share ideas and approaches, creating an online resource listing housing support and activist groups for those in need.
16th September to 1st December
Grand Union, 19 Minerva Works, Fazeley Street, Birmingham B5 5RS
Paulina Korobkiewicz: HOMELAND, Centrala
Paulina Korobkiewicz is a Polish photographer and visual artist, whose work looks at everyday objects and public spaces. HOMELAND explores the visibility of the migrant community within public spaces, and engages with themes such as political identity, belonging, memory and representation.
Focusing on the areas of West Bromwich and Hyson Green, HOMELAND will address the importance of visibility, and how our spaces are constructed by those who inhabit them. The exhibition will be a platform to share experiences of migration from different perspectives, with photographs accompanied by excerpts from interviews.
In partnership with University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, the exhibition is part of Post-Socialist Britain?, a larger research project exploring migration, collective memory and political identity, in an attempt to better support community cohesion and inclusion in contemporary Britain.
6th October – 13th November
Centrala, Unit 4 Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley Street, Birmingham B5 5RT
Melati Suryodarmo: Passionate Pilgrim, IKON Gallery
Considered to be one of Indonesia’s most important living artists, Melati Suryodarmo will host her first UK exhibition in Birmingham’s IKON Gallery this year. Renowned for her “strenuous durational performances” that combine live art, sculpture and time-based media, the exhibition will honour Suryodarmo’s commitment to pushing the limits of her artistic endeavors and establishing connections within the performance art industry.
The performance piece after which the exhibition has been named, Passionate Pilgrim, uses mirrors and plastic pearls to explore themes of dignity and identity, inspired by an encounter with a female Indonesian migrant worker. In particular, Surodarmo’s work particularly seeks to convey the idea of activism, and interrogate subject matter such as time, labour and the self.
For the duration of the exhibition, IKON gallery will be transformed into a performance space, with live performances from the artist and delegated works performed by over 50 associated artists and community activists.
Ongoing until 3rd September
IKON Gallery, 1 Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2HS
Made at MAC: Digital Zines, Midlands Art Centre
The culmination of the ‘Reframe’ project, a digital skills initiative sponsored by Apple, Digital Zines is an interactive exhibition of work created by 7 local secondary schools this summer – Aston Manor Academy, BOA Digital Technologies, Holte School, King Edwards VI Five Ways, Nishkam High School, Queensbridge School and Uffculme School.
Part of Apple’s global Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, the ‘Reframe’ project marks its expansion into Europe. Under the ‘Inspire Schools’ strand of the programme, the project aims to spark a passion for creativity among the next generation. Offered in creative hubs in London, Manchester and Birmingham, the aim of the project is to inspire Black creatives, fostering a cultural heritage in the UK.
Over 100 students participated, creating a collaborative zine for their school exploring their concerns about the climate emergency. Each piece acts as a powerful call to action, asking its viewer to act now, and pledge to be kinder to the planet. The exhibition can be explored online, or via a touchscreen on site at the MAC.
Ongoing until 7th January 2024
Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Wordless Manuscripts From Heaven, The Hive
Explore the vibrant legacy of the Miao minority group in this exhibition, exploring the remarkable heritage of a people who tell their stories without a written language.
The history, traditions, migrations and past of the Miao people is expressed through the artistry of embroidery and batik, stories woven into richly coloured textiles to be worn – a ‘wordless manuscript from heaven’. Each stitch and dye pattern is considered a language of its own, a testimony to their cultural richness and creativity.
Throughout the period of the exhibition, The Hive will also offer two related textile workshops, allowing visitors to get involved and try the techniques for themselves: a Chinese Tea Ceremony and Tea Dyeing workshop on 8th August, and an Indigo Dyeing workshop on 22nd August. Places can be booked via their Instagram, @thehivejq.
Ongoing until 25th August
The Hive, 43-47 Vittoria St, Birmingham B1 3PE
Mastering the Market: Dutch and Flemish Paintings from Woburn Abbey, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Curated by MA students from the University of Birmingham’s Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies, under expert guidance, ‘Mastering the Market’ will feature one of the largest and most significant collections of Old Master paintings to be exhibited in a public gallery since the 1950s.
Addressing the 17th century Dutch art market, the exhibition will explore themes of patronage and collecting – from a competitive artistic culture, to art dealership and attribution, to the development of new genres. Visitors can expect to see masterpieces by Rembrant van Rijn, Anthony van Dyck and Frans Hals, complemented by a selection of Dutch and Flemish paintings from the Barber’s own permanent collection.
These artworks are being loaned to Birmingham, while Woburn Abbey, where they usually reside, is undergoing refurbishment – so it’s definitely worth catching them while they’re here.
Ongoing until 24th September
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TS
Birmingham Open Studios
Now in its 7th year, Birmingham Open Studios is an art trail that allows artists and crafters of all experience to exhibit and sell their work from their own homes and studios, allowing the public an insight into their lives and creative process.
The ethos behind the Open Studios is to promote creativity, community and cohesion. The public visits, purchases, praise and commissions give artists a reason to keep creating – without paying the high commission rate to a gallery. The project is increasing in size every year, with 100 artists exhibiting across 47 homes, studios and venues in 2022. It now covers the following areas: Moseley, Kings Heath, Balsall Heath, Hall Green, Selly Park, Stirchley, Cotteridge, Bournville, Kings Norton, Northfield, Selly Oak, Bournbrook, Harborne, Bearwood, Quinton, Edgbaston, Shirley, City Centre and Digbeth.
Free printed guide books with maps can be picked up from across the city, or you can follow along with the interactive map and guide on their website.
23rd to 24th September and 30th September to 1st October
Various locations across Birmingham.
