Image: Yelena Popova, Keepsafe II, design for two Jacquard woven tapestries, 2019; courtesy of the artist.
Friday 7 February – Thursday 27 March 2020
Private View Thursday 6 February 17:30 – 19:30
General Opening Times Weekdays 12:00 – 18:00
Open late on Thursdays 19:00
The Holden Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan University, Grosvenor Building, Cavendish Street, Manchester, M15 6BR
Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre and the Holden Gallery are delighted to present Yelena Popova, ‘The Scholar Stones Project’. Working across a range of media including installation, painting and tapestry, Popova’s interdisciplinary project addresses an ongoing fascination with nuclear history and materiality. The exploration into nuclear heritage reflects on Popova’s autobiographical history, having grown up in Ozyorsk, Russia, a secret closed city, and the birthplace of the Soviet nuclear-weapons programme.
Over the last year Popova has been visiting decommissioned nuclear sites around the UK as part of a self-appointed enquiry. ‘The Scholar Stones Project’ is the culmination of her research, exploring the deep connections between our nuclear industry, the landscape and the passage of time.
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The artist’s new installation has been developed with the support of our Sculpture Production Award 2019. Open to emerging artists working in 3D, based within the UK but outside of London, the Award provides six sculptors with skills mentoring and a £1,000 production grant towards the realisation of a new work. Find out more.
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The Sculpture Production Award 2019 is funded by Arts Council England and Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre. With special thanks to CVAN EM, CVAN South East, Eastside Projects, New Art West Midlands, STEAMhouse and the Yorkshire & Humber Visual Arts Network for supporting the cost of administering the Open Call to ensure it remains free to apply.
Programme partners: Branch Arts, Castlefield Gallery, Coventry Biennial, CVAN EM, CVAN South East, Eastside Projects, New Art West Midlands, New Contemporaries, Primary, STEAMhouse, Temporary Contemporary, Yorkshire & Humber Visual Arts Network, Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Additional partner for this exhibition is Holden Gallery.