A new exhibition has launched at Kirkby Gallery, exploring themes of journeys, identity and belonging.
The exhibition brings together new creative work, museum collections and archives to celebrate the stories of communities and is a collaborative touring exhibition brought together by Open Eye Gallery, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, and Aberdeenshire Museums Service. The project paired communities with socially engaged artists to reflect on the themes of migration, heritage and identity and create new connections through storytelling.
In New Faces New Focus, photographer Anoosh Ariamehr engaged with people in Knowsley, who shared memories of the area through the years and reflect on how it has changed.
Participants visited Open Eye Gallery’s archive and the collection at Prescot Museum sparked an exploration of life journeys through personal archives – from community work, caring professions and industry, to creative pursuits, travel and moments in time. The project reflects on the life experiences that form our sense of self, and the shifting nature of identity.
Photographer and Knowsley project lead Anoosh Ariamehr said:
“This project has been a profound exploration of journey, archive, absence, and identity. Through tactile processes like collage-making and intentional portraiture, the participants have given physical shape to fragmented memories and personal journeys.
“Seeing them transition from learning technical skills to co-curating their own stories with such creative ownership highlights the true power of community-led art. This project reminded me that photographs do not only hold images; they also hold time, silence, memory and the possibility of another story.
“The archive gave us a place to begin, but the community members carried those images somewhere new. Through their photographs, collages and words, the past entered into conversation with the present.
“For me, the most powerful part has been watching people discover that their everyday experiences, memories and local places are not small stories; they are part of the history that deserves to be seen and remembered.”
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said:
“New Faces, New Focus is a powerful exhibition that shines a light on the stories, experiences and memories that help shape our communities. Through photography, personal archives and creative storytelling, participants have explored what identity, belonging and heritage mean to them, while capturing the rich history and evolving character of Knowsley.
It has been wonderful to see local residents work alongside Anoosh to reflect on their personal journeys and create something that will inspire others. The exhibition demonstrates how art can bring people together, encourage meaningful conversations and help us better understand both our shared experiences and the unique stories that make each of us who we are.
We are proud to host this exhibition at Kirkby Gallery and to be part of a national project that celebrates communities across the UK. I would encourage residents and visitors alike to come along, explore the exhibition and discover the fascinating stories behind the images and artworks on display.”
Alongside New Faces New Focus, is the first UK exhibition of Comfort Work by Andrii Dostliev and Lia Dostlieva. Purchased by Art Friends Merseyside for Open Eye Gallery, Comfort Work sits within Open Eye Gallery’s Archive and was commissioned for the Ukrainian National Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia.
New Faces, New Focus is part of ‘Going Places’, an Art Fund programme where museums and galleries from all four nations share their collections in the largest collaborative touring project of its kind. Six museum networks spanning the breadth of the country have been co-creating twelve major touring exhibitions, taking the UK’s collections on a journey that will result in forty unique exhibitions made with and for local communities.
Going Places is an Art Fund programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals.
