“Who gets to make and present artwork in institutions like the Barbican?” was the question at the heart of 'differently various'.
The ground-breaking exhibition and take-over of the Curve Gallery was the culmination of five years of collaboration between the Barbican and Headway East London, a charity which offers ongoing support for people affected by brain injury.
Showcasing the diverse artwork of over 70 artists from Submit to Love, Headway East’s art studio, the exhibition also shared perspectives, information and experiences of brain injury. The space also became home to an ambitious programme of free events, allowing the public to engage with the work of Headway and its artists.
The brief and design of the space were developed in collaboration with the project’s steering group, which included many members and artists of Headway East. The 90m long gallery was conceived to hold serious and emotional subject matter alongside joyful, uplifting moments. Each piece of artwork was elevated through the creation of considered and generous gallery spaces, alternated with boldly coloured ‘rooms’ exhibiting film, audio and activities related to brain injury. The atmosphere and feel of the space was carefully designed to reflect the energy, care and vitality of Headway.
The exhibition received a 5-star review in The Guardian and was featured on Channel 4 News and BBC London News amongst others.
Client
Date
2023
Location
Barbican Curve Gallery
differently various
"Through differently various, a collective has found a space to express themselves and push boundaries. Their work is sometimes ugly, sometimes beautiful, often both, and in each case prompts a rollercoaster of thought and emotion."
- Cathy Reay, The Guardian.
"When we first visited The Curve, one of our group was a wheelchair user. There was no ramp at the time, and the only way of easily accessing the gallery was to use the wheelchair lift, but it wasn’t working. A better solution was clearly needed for the differently various exhibition."
- Chris Miller, Artist.
An accessible ramp was designed and installed for the duration of the exhibition, exposing the lack of permanent accessibility to the gallery and opening up discussions for future provision.
A large model helped to directly communicate the development of the design to the Steering Group.
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