Art / News
The exhibition redefining protest
A new exhibition is redefining the boundary between art and protest close to the protest hotspot of Bristol.
The Give Me a Sign exhibition by the artist Yuko Edwards is a thought provoking interactive art installation that encourages visitors to make protest placards about any topic they think is prevalent in current society.
There are four of these signs placed outside the exhibition for passers-by to see. Each time a new sign is made, the creator decides which sign outside it will replace. These displaced signs are then placed inside the exhibition space, creating an ever-growing collage of opinions.
is needed now More than ever
Signs painted so far include ‘the patriarchy sucks’, which was the very first sign, alongside ‘black lives matter’ and ‘express your individuality’.
Other signs range from support for Ukraine to saying that red pesto is better than green pesto, as well as a plea to make circus free for all.
Inside the exhibition at The Vestibules: photo – Isobel Turner
“That idea doesn’t go away but it goes into the gallery space for people to either contemplate it or ignore it,” Edwards told Bristol24/7.
The signs outside have been placed on wooden sticks, as they would be in a protest, with Edwards hoping that each creator can take to College Green with their own sign.
The participatory aspect of this process presents a variety of public opinions which means that each person has a different experience of this exhibition, based on what they choose to look at, write and remove.
A video is consistently running within the exhibition of Edwards chipping away at a piece of wood. As a video artist by nature, she has included this as a metaphor of the signs which are meant to “chip away at society”.
Artist Yuko Edwards: photo – Isobel Turner
Seven-year-old Lois calling for free circus for all – photo: Martin Booth
Visitors to the exhibition make signs which are then put on display outside the entrance to The Vestibules – photo: Martin Booth
Artist Yuko Edwards has created permanent placards out of wood as part of the exhibition – photo: Martin Booth
Give Me a Sign is open at The Vestibules at City Hall from 11am to 5pm until Friday. For more information, visit Yuko’s instagram.
Main photo: Isobel Turner
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