Aspex Portsmouth is proud to present Traces of Being, an exhibition of new works co-produced by the 2024/5 Aspire Cohort, a group of 12 emerging and mid-career artists from across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and further afield.
The artists, five of whom are Isle of Wight based (Jan Frith, Sara Truckel, Hannah George, Alicia French and Ian Whitmore), have spent the last six months developing curatorial expertise through the Aspire professional development programme.
Led by Ricardo Reverón Blanco, Curator and Programme Manager at Aspex, the programme equips artists, curators, and arts professionals with essential skills in exhibition-making, project management, and arts facilitation.
A deeply personal and collective exploration
Traces of Being is a deeply personal and collective exploration of memory, identity and transformation in response to the current main Aspex exhibition – Embodied Activism by Sivan Rubinstein and the work of Helen Chadwick first shown at Aspex 40 years ago.
Traces of Being features works in paint, fibre, film, and sculpture, the exhibition brings together a tapestry of experiences – whispers of histories, echoes of love, and reflections on self and place. Each artist, at a different stage in their career, has contributed their unique voice to create a compelling narrative of change and connection.
Get an exclusive first look
The Private View on Wednesday 12th March will offer guests an exclusive first look at the exhibition, alongside a special live performance of Statues Also Move by Aspire graduate María de la O Garrido.
This thought-provoking piece, performed with Carmen Gray and María Paton, extends Garrido’s long-term project Statues Also Die (S.A.D).
Hands-on experience
Aspire participants have spent the past six months working closely with Aspex Portsmouth, gaining hands-on experience in curating contemporary visual arts exhibitions. The programme has helped them refine their skills in fundraising, budgeting, arts facilitation, and audience engagement. Traces of Being is the culmination of this journey, a testament to their growth as artists and curators.
We invite the public to visit Traces of Being and discover the stories woven into this dynamic and thought-provoking exhibition.
Please do RSVP if you intend to attend the Private View on 12th March.
News shared by Sara on behalf of the five IW artists. Ed
