Alistair Woods: Doves & Crossbones
Doves and Crossbones is an exhibition by Alistair Woods that reflects on cultural and societal identities. The works make reference to trade union banners and the flags and banners found at football matches, both of which people stand under or behind to help represent and express their identity. The compositions are inspired by abstractly anecdotal marks, found on the street and in urban spaces, that feel functional and charming.
Despite the different approaches to how they are created, a common thread within the trade union banners and football fan flags is the use of symbolism and iconography to express ideas and qualities. This is similar to the use of imagery in renaissance paintings. Common trade union motifs are doves for peace, beehives representing the cooperation of the workforce and red is the colour of courage and labour. Flowers were often used as a symbol of life and growth in renaissance paintings, whilst skulls signify the certainty of mortality. The skull has also been adopted by football fans, on one hand in quite a sinister way, with unfortunate links to the far right but also using the skull with crossbones, as a joyful representation of their desire to live their lives free of rules.
Curated by Stuart Burke.
26 Mar-10 Apr 2022
Saturdays 12-4pm
or by appointment
www.instagram.com/_alistairwoods
www.alistairwods.co.uk
160 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S14RE
Current
Sam Blackwood, Grace Clifford, Sam Hutchinson, Conor Rogers: Embers
2024
Speculative Proxy, Alexandra Searle & Joel Wycherley:
Locusts of the Sickly Sun
Group Show:
Yellow June (Juin Jaune)
Serf at GLOAM:
Ground Test
Semi Precious & Yasmin Vardi:
Sun is Out
Madeline Adams:
Entropy
Lucie Kordacova & Miroslava Vecerova:
Arid Landscapes and Ancient Waters
2023
GLOAM at Serf:
Testing Ground
Kelan Andrews, Brianna Beckford, Alana Lake & Renee Nie:
Tread Softly
Florence Peake, Hester Reeve, Mark Titmarsh & John Latham:
Material Action
Lucy Crouch & Matthew Vaughan: Tracing Matter
Jack Ginno:
Mirror
Jonny Davey & Sam Francis Read: Bogland
Dale Homles:
Welcome to Map Making Guild of Drystone Walling One-Eyed Giants
GLOAM at Eastside Projects:
If It Thunders on All Fool’s Day
GLOAM at Two Queens:
Studio-Holder Show
Nisa Khan:
Undress me with your eyes...
2022
Harold Offeh:
Creating Patterns
Group Show:
Beneath the Pewter Sky
Victoria Sharples:
Offering from the River
Celeste McEvoy:
Forehead On The Glass
Group Show:
An Expanding Field
Two Queens:
Members Show 2022
Alistair Woods:
Doves & Crossbones
2021
School of The Damned:
Blood From a Stone
Flo Main:
FOCM Spring Summer
General Practice:
Method Lab Part Two
Stella Baraklianou:
The Magician
Joe Singleton:
Million Tons Per Annum
2017-2020
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GLOAM is a collectively-run exhibition and studio space located in Sheffield City Centre. Since 2020, GLOAM has been run by co-directors (Stu Burke, Victoria Sharples & Thomas Lee Griffiths) at 160 Arundel Street; the former location of the DIY music venue, The Lughole. Previous co-directors include: Mark Riddington, Sam Francis Read & Rose Hedy Squires.
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