Frankenstein Book Art exhibition takes over Knowsley’s Kirkby Gallery
Following a hugely successful residency at Liverpool’s iconic Central Library, Liverpool Book Art’s third major exhibition of Book Art from artists across the globe now heads to Knowsley where Kirkby Gallery will be its home until the end of January, 2019.
Following the great success of 2016’s ‘Shakespeare Now’ exhibition, organisers have been celebrating 200 years since the first publication of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus’ with this year’s offering.
The exhibition has seen great interest since launching in Liverpool earlier this year, with repeat visitors returning to hear talks from the curator and many of the works being sold to members of the public.
The Knowsley arm of the exhibition will feature over 15 new and exclusive works, which did not appear in Liverpool, as well as a site specific mural.
Frankenstein is a classic work for a variety of reasons. Not only is it arguably the very first work of science fiction, but it is also a core text of Gothic literature, with Dracula not being published until nearly 80 years later. Its themes of ambition and hubris, ethics and morality, responsibility for the consequence of one’s actions, free will and empathy have been important since the book was first published.
Today, they appear hugely relevant, whether considering genetic manipulation and synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, or Silicon Valley’s ‘disruptive technologies’.
Book artists from around the world have responded with a hugely creative range of ideas. Some have been stimulated by the themes in the book; others have been inspired by the way the story is told; others have made links between Frankenstein and other classic stories such as Dracula and The Golem.
Simon Ryder, founder of Liverpool Book Art and curator of the exhibition said ” I’ve been delighted at the reaction of people to the Frankenstein 2018 exhibition. We’ve had lots of favourable comments, and many people think it’s the best exhibition we’ve done.
“Kirkby Gallery prides itself on devising and hosting a broad and ambitious exhibitions programme, presenting shows of a fine art base, to contemporary crafts, to those of a literary theme or inspiration – so this collaboration with the Liverpool Book Art team, offers a great opportunity at presenting a show which embodies all of these elements; whilst ensuring a strong educational offer’ for schools and groups.” – Tina Ball, Kirkby Gallery
Visitors to the exhibition so far have been delighted, leaving comments such as“a wonderful and thought-provoking exhibition”; “absolutely loved it”; “fabulous exhibition”; “fascinating well-presented exhibition” and “it made our day, thank you”.
The Exhibition runs from 17th September until 26th January, 2019 at the Kirkby Gallery in Knowsley and is FREE to the public. For more information, visitprescotmuseum.org.uk/event/