THE HERO INSIDE EXHIBITION
THE GOLDEN LEGACY
“Another untold history of our time. ”
The three month Hero Inside Programme culminated in a public exhibition at the Menier Gallery. The participants showcased their creative achievements alongside the inspirational comic book series The Golden Legacy Collection.
The curator focused on exhibiting positive cultural imagery and African American stories celebrating global accomplishments and family values of men and women with black heritage.
CREATIVE
The Menier Gallery is a dynamic space to view and exhibit contemporary art and design. The curator exhibited the participants creative work alongside the professional artists.
The white display walls accompanied with the natural light were ideal for exhibiting the origins of a Hero, the Golden Legacy Collection, the professional artists' illustrations and a number of limited edition black comics sourced from an avid London collector. A photographic exhibition of the creative process and the teaching resource were also exhibited to provide context.
The industrial quality of the exposed brick work provided an excellent backdrop for the 'Ancestors' and the participant's large scale 'Elements' collages.
The open space enabled the curator to develop interactive elements for families and visitors.
CONSULTANCY
The Menier Gallery is located on the edge of the renowned Borough Market in London Bridge and Tate Modern, attracting many visitors, including artists, local residents and tourists. It was in an ideal public platform, providing an opportunity to introduce the classic African American Collection to a wider audience.
It was essential to replace the traditional black cultural stereotype that readily saturates the mainstream media, with inspirational imagery and stories of international African descent pioneers, designers, scientists and explorers who have influenced and shaped our global community.
Alongside the professional artists, the art work of the Focused Group participants illustrated the young people's creativity and their positive storytelling abilities, dispelling any negative perceptions.
EXHIBITION OVERIVEW
THE HISTORY OF HERU
“This exhibition lit up something inside me about who we are as people and the importance to stand strong in self. We are all heroes. ”
CONTEXT FOR THE HERO INSIDE PROGRAMME
The curator researched the origins of a hero to provide context for the exhibition. The origin of the hero is rooted in African/Egyptian allegory of Heru, often referred to as Horus by the Greeks. Heru was symbolic of the rising sun - the light. Heru then became the prototype of the ‘Hero,’ the role model for humanity. Participants were encouraged to 'look within' and to identify real heroes within their family and community as opposed to superheroes that rely on external powers.
THE GOLDEN LEGACY
THE CLASSIC AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLECTION
The Golden Legacy is a classic collection of illustrated biographical accounts of the significant achievements of African American men and women throughout history. The Collection utilizes the appeal of the comic book format and was integrated into the programme. The perspective of the comic books instilled pride and raised the self-esteem of the African descent participants. The stories replaced myths with an appreciation for the contributions that others have made to our current society in science, arts and leadership.
“I found the exhibition very interesting and enlightening. A good way to talk about black heroes past and present in current society. ”
TEACHING RESOURCE
INSPIRING INVESTIGATION
Looking for a face like mine. base the attributes of a hero in a reality, devoid of celebrity which dominates the mainstream media today Look beyond the limited role models for the black community: a footballer, musician or actor and extend to the aspirational stories of pioneering scientists, explorers and leaders. Advocating people who overcome adversity by acknowledging their ancestry and looking within their family for real life heroes as opposed to the superhero brand that saturates mainstream media.
“Comics are a great tool and this project has been really successful in facilitating opportunities to engage children in thinking about concepts of justice and fairness. ”
YOUNG PEOPLE'S EXHIBITION
alongside professional ARTISTS
Looking for a face like mine. base the attributes of a hero in a reality, devoid of celebrity which dominates the mainstream media today Look beyond the limited role models for the black community: a footballer, musician or actor and extend to the aspirational stories of pioneering scientists, explorers and leaders. Advocating people who overcome adversity by acknowledging their ancestry and looking within their family for real life heroes as opposed to the superhero brand that saturates mainstream media.
“Great exhibition. Very informative. The children completed very inspiring work. I hope this project will go forward and empower other young people to believe in their abilities. ”
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
WELCOMING THE WIDER COMMUNITY
The aim of the exhibition at the Menier Gallery was to raise the awareness of the achievements of the African descent community: past and present. The present being the young artists' creations. The exhibition was curated to encourage intercultural dialogue. The different perspectives generated as a result of the creative arts initiative triggered an exchange of ideas and thinking among the public and schools that attended.
“An excellent example of how creative learning can be used to enable young people to learn about history and themselves. Very Inspiring.”
PARTNERS
The Hero Inside Programme collaborated with the following arts organisations, artists and educational institutions in London.
