Rebecoming

Rebecoming brings together newly commissioned works from four artists Virglio Ferreira, Henrik Malmstr̦m, Tereza Zelenkova and Lucy Levene. Focusing on migration patterns between 1950 and 1980 from southern to central and northern Europe, it depicts fragments of the stories and environments of individuals who left their countries of birth to start a new life in new lands due to economic reasons.

The works explore issues related to family, labour, mobility, boundary, cultural heritage and social expectation. They also connect to instances of courage, upheaval, opportunity, unfreedom, self-respect, heroism and the dream of returning 'home', not withdrawing exploitation and poverty; the ultimate capitalistic ethic. By offering personal visions of lived experience, Rebecoming examines the contradictory nature of how the stage for temporary migration often became permanent.

Collectively the artists in Rebecoming offer insight into the complexities of the migrant experience at a charged and contentious moment in the evolution of modern Europe. It is an ode to those travellers who dared to make the journey, for better or worse.

This exhibition has been organised in association with 1000 Words Magazine and curated by Tim Clark.