A new exhibition inspired by the landscapes, stories and people of Andover is set to open at Chapel Arts Studios on Saturday 9 May.
Convergence: Heart Land is the latest collaboration from twenty3 art collective, a group of six multidisciplinary artists who graduated together from Arts University Bournemouth’s MA Fine Art course in 2023.
The collective – made up of Sophie Firth, Richard Gregory, Jindra Jehu, Zara McQueen, Sarah Moore and Hester Poole – explores autobiographical, social, political and environmental themes through their work.
For the exhibition, the artists made several visits to Andover, drawing inspiration from conversations in the high street, visits to ancient chalk streams and an Iron Age hillfort, as well as the mapping of personal histories and local connections.
Visitors can expect a wide range of artistic media throughout the exhibition, including film, sculpture, drawing, painting, photography and sound. One of the featured pieces is a collaborative drawing created with members of the public, alongside their pets and prams, during a Thursday market in February.
The exhibition opens with a special launch event from 3pm until 5pm on Saturday 9 May. It will then remain open from 11am until 4pm, Wednesday to Saturday, until 30 May.
An artists’ panel discussion will also take place at 3pm on Saturday 16 May, giving visitors the opportunity to meet the collective and learn more about the inspiration behind the exhibition. Free tickets can be booked through the Chapel Arts Studios website.
Following Convergence: Heart Land, the venue’s next exhibition will be the Annual Summer Open Call-out Exhibition. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 7 June, with artists invited to submit work via CuratorSpace.com or through the Opportunities section on the Chapel Arts Studios website.