For a number of years, the Hatton has worked with L-INK – a group of young people who come together to explore and re-interpret exhibition and collection themes. Together, they collaborate, co-curate, produce events, work with artists and create artworks. The group is made up of around 15 participants, aged 16 – 21, who meet monthly over the course of a year-long project.
As part of their project last year, the group took part in an astronomical residency at Allenheads Contemporary Arts, inspired by the Hatton’s Artist Rooms: Vija Celmins exhibition. During the residency they worked with artist Alan Smith, taking part in night-time moon-drawing workshops, and interrogating questions around their own identity in the context of the Universe.
This year, the group have expanded their practice, taking inspiration from the idea of individuality and uniqueness with a focus on different ways in which we understand the idea of ‘value’, inspired by their own initial experience of working to instruction from exercises taken from the Basic Course, which was taught by Victor Pasmore and Richard Hamilton in Newcastle University’s Fine Art Department during the `1950s – 60s. The group are collaborating to create new forms, which draw upon their own lived experiences as young people in the North East, Their work will be on display in the University’s Ex Libris Gallery over the 2025 Easter holiday.
Zoe Allen, Exhibition Officer
Friends of the Hatton 