Fighting Walls and A Rebel Scene

Photo of 'A Rebel Scene' mural. 

The New Art Exchange is situated in the heart of Hyson Green. It seems the perfect place to house the largest gallery in the UK to celebrate cultural diversity within art and society. 

Upon visiting the gallery, it was the first day of the Goose Fair. It was the end of the school day and children were running home. They darted in between the stationary rides, anticipating the thrill of riding them later that night. Then, the children shot past the New Art Exchange, most of them unaware that inside the walls were brimming with culturally diverse contemporary art which was working at giving them a voice...

Work of a graffiti artist in the Middle East.

'A Rebel Scene' began on 1st October 2016 and finishes on the 18th December 2016. It is an exhibition that reflects the political defiance and civil resistance, an idea that is so prevalent in the people of Nottingham.
Artists, Kajal Nisha Patel and Sunil Shah present their project which addresses the concept of space (mental, physical or virtual) as a place where political ideas can be expressed. They explore how activists use these spaces to challenge or change their current situation.

A political expression from the people of Nottingham. 

One side of the exhibition features grey and black images all over a wooden wall. These include posters such as 'Big Brother is Watching you' which infers how the people feel like society is always watching them.
The other side the artwork is presented on a clean, white wall and each of the pieces is in a black frame. These contemporary pieces incorporate human faces and words to express their messages.

Art from the people. 

The exhibition titled 'Fighting Walls: Street Art in Egypt and Iran' show the use of a 'political space' in Tehran and Cairo. They show how the city walls have become a battleground between the authorities and the people. Originally, the walls were covered in ideological narratives or what they 'should' be doing but recently a new generation of graffiti artists have battled to claim back the ownership of the streets.

Graffiti art representing the voices of the people.

If you are interested in going to visit this exhibition at the New Art Exchange all the details are on their website, here. 

Thank you to the New Art Exchange for putting on such a diverse and thought-provoking exhibition.