Unbearable Lightness of Being
Paradise Works, Manchester
September 20 – November 01, 2024
Curated by Yue Yu & Jessica Bennett
Artists:
YJere Vainio, Timo Vaittinen, SASHAPASHA (Sasha Rotts and Pavel Rotts), Freya Wysocki, Jez Dolan, artist duo (Chris Alton and Emily Simpson)
This exhibition is kindly supported and funded by Arts Council England and Frame Contemporary Art Finland.
This exhibition brings together Helsinki-based and Manchester-based artists in a dynamic exploration of textiles within contemporary art highlighting the shared heritage of the textile industry in both cities.
Textiles play a fundamental role in our everyday lives—clothing us, furnishing our homes and carrying personal and collective memories. Beyond these everyday functions, textiles are a powerful medium in contemporary art, used to probe complex themes and issues. This exhibition showcases how artists from Helsinki and Manchester employ textiles in their work, examining the materials unique ability to express both fragility and resilience. The featured artworks reflect on a range of topics, from political and societal issues to ecological concerns.
By fostering a dialogue between these artists, we aim to bridge cultural perspectives and engage with local communities, deepening the conversation around the role of textiles in contemporary art and society.