Visual Arts July -2.qxp_Layout 1 20/06/2019 14:51 Page 2
Visual Arts
Nick Hynan: Gender Blending Birmingham LGBT Centre, until Mon 26 August
This thought-provoking exhibition sees local photographer Nick Hynan chronicling Birmingham’s gender-blending culture. Nick’s aim is to show that drag and cross-dressing is a ‘living and evolving tradition’, and that today’s generation of drag kings and queens have developed a range of styles which allow them to challenge, with increasing confidence, society’s attitudes to gender and sexuality. An ongoing project since 2014, Gender Blending 2019 includes new images being exhibited for the very first time.
A Tea Journey: From The Mountains To The Table Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 6 July - Sun 22 September
Compton Verney’s summer exhibition does exactly what it says on the, er, tea caddy - telling the story of how Britain’s favourite drink became an everyday commodity. The exhibition features paintings, poetry, music, a collection of ancient and modern ceramics, a tea sensorium and a modern Japanese tea
house made of bamboo, which is appearing outside Japan for the first time. Also included is an examination of how tea physically affects the body and can help in times of shock or grief, and an intricate-but-transient wet clay installation inspired by tea and created by Staffordshire artist Phoebe Cummings.
Drawn Of The Dead: The Comic Art Of Charlie Adlard Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 3 November
Opening last month to coincide with Comics Salopia - Shrewsbury’s new comic book festival - Drawn Of The Dead features a selection of original illustrations by local artist Charlie Adlard, best known for his
work on the Walking Dead comic book. The exhibition provides visitors with the chance to take part in a ‘zombie life-drawing session’, during which they can create a zombie sketch to take home.
A Tale Of Two Empires: Rome And Persia Barber Institute, Birmingham, until Sun 15 March 2020
This long-running exhibition is based around the Barber’s extensive Late Roman coin collection and its historically important Sasanian cache (Sasania was the last kingdom of the Persian Empire, nowadays known as Iran). Charting a journey from the third century through to the seventh, the display recounts a story of violence and glory, peace and tolerance, betrayal and revenge. Along the way, it plots the dynamics that existed between the ancient superpowers of Rome and Persia as they ‘spun humiliating defeats and promoted bloody victories on the small pieces of art circulating in the pockets of the masses’. The exhibition also contemplates the artistic themes and devices the two civilisations had in common. whatsonlive.co.uk 37