Electric Fence
Due to current situation, this exhibition is closed but the website remains open for you to view
Electric Fence is a solo show of works by Lincolnshire-based contemporary artist, Annabel McCourt. For this exhibition, McCourt's well-known installation 'Electric Fence', initially conceived for Hull Minster during the City of Culture year, will take over the upstairs gallery space in the Usher Gallery, alongside a series of new works specially commissioned for this 2020 exhibition.
McCourt's 'Electric Fence' is a large-scale sculptural re-creation of an electric fence, inspired by occurrences of homophobic hate speech and utilising innovative audio technology to create an immersive and haunting experience. For over a year, McCourt has been working to design a new site-specific presentation of the 'Electric Fence' for the unique setting of the Usher Gallery. The piece will be shown alongside a neon sign work titled 'Happy Hour in the Harmful Factory', which references wider concerns around feminism, class and popular culture. Working closely with The Collection and Usher Gallery, over the past year McCourt has facilitated a number of workshops, inviting the people of Lincolnshire to contribute their own stories of overcoming personal barriers. These stories will be present in the gallery and they will also be shown on a purpose-built website.
The exhibition also includes a new set of flags, titled 'Flying the Flag', designed by McCourt and housed on top of the Usher Gallery, as part of the gallery's on-going programme of contemporary art flag commissions. During the exhibition, McCourt will choreograph a number of changes to the order of the flags. The work acts as both a playful celebration of LGBTQI+ histories and a powerful reminder of the on-going journey towards equality.
To coincide with LGBTQi+ History month in February and this unique exhibition, The Collection and Usher Gallery is programming a series of talks around this theme, drawing links to the collection and the history of Lincolnshire.
**Please note, though the gallery is closed to the public for the foreseeable future in order to protect the health and wellbeing of our community - our staff, volunteers, visitors and you - Annabel McCourt's website remains open. Please visit Annabel McCourt's website for more information on the project, words from participants of the workshops and wider information on the artists work. https://www.annabelmccourt.com/flyingtheflag
Events and Talks
Lunchtime Lecture: Annabel McCourt, Electric Fence
24 February, 12.30pm–1.30pm
Join us in conversation with Annabel McCourt, considering her current exhibition at the Usher Gallery in relation to LGBTQi+ histories.
Flying the Flag
On-going
During the exhibition, McCourt will choreograph a number of changes to the order of the flags on top of the Usher Gallery as part of her work, Flying the Flag. Find out when the flags will be changed from a member of staff in the gallery, or keep an eye on our social media.
@collectionusher /collectionusher
This exhibition is free entry but donations are encouraged.
Image credit homepage: Electric Fence, Annabel McCourt, 2019. Image courtesy of the artist.