A powerful collection of artworks, which express deeply emotional and personal journeys, will launch at an event at the University of Nottingham's Institute for Mental Health (IMH) on Tuesday November 26, 2024.
The exhibition Being Seen – a collection of work by Midlands-based artist and storyteller Andy Farr, who is based in the University's Department of Philosophy – is built on dialogues with people who have faced trauma.
The installation, which is debuting at the IMH and will run until mid-January 2025, is a poignant collection of paintings. Each piece reflects personal stories of recovery where Andy has translated narratives and emotions into visual form.
I continue to be humbled and inspired by the resilience of those who bravely share their experiences with me, and by doing so placing themselves in my hands."
The launch event, Transformative Pathways: In Art and Words, includes nine participant testimonies and speakers who will share their experiences and whose personal narratives have informed Andy's work. Their stories range from engaging with talking therapies, mindfulness, and creative expression to finding solace in community, nature, and self-discovery. Together, they represent diverse pathways to reclaiming well-being after trauma, offering powerful messages of hope and empowerment. Those involved will talk about the role this project has played in their journey of healing, and the importance of truly 'being seen'.
One painting included in the exhibition is of Paul Price's partner Elaine McIver, who died standing next to him at the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017. Paul was seriously injured and when Andy met with him, he expected the focus to be on his recovery journey from his own severe injuries. But as they talked, they realised that what was most important was to celebrate Elaine's life and spirit.
These words come from Paul's pen portrait, written in loving memory of Elaine: "These are the hardest and most heartbreaking words I will ever write. I know words will never be enough to convey my feelings; quite simply, there are no words… She was everything to me."
With this painting, Andy aimed to capture Elaine's love of life and her selfless spirit. Upon seeing the completed painting for the first time, Paul expressed his emotion simply: "I can't describe the impact of seeing it in the room that day."
Chaired by Heike Bartel, Professor of German in the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, who has a special interest in the study of interdisciplinary narratives of illness, health and recovery, this event promises to be a powerful experience, blending art and personal storytelling to shine a light on recovery and resilience.
The new exhibition of paintings by Andy Farr will be open to the public from 27 November until mid-January. The launch event Transformative Pathways: In Art and Words, from 5-8pm on Tuesday 26 November 2024, can be booked here. The work will then go on to be exhibited at Coventry Cathedral and Lewisham Arthouse next year.
