Wolverhampton Art Gallery: You Should Be Living

18.06.2011 — 17.09.2011

The Visual Language of Heavy Metal

Image Credit: Ben Venom

Opening Times:
Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm
21st July: 10am - 8.30pm

Admission: Free

While the Home of Metal project explores the relationship between fans and music, this exhibition further investigates this relationship by examining the work of artists inspired by Heavy Metal. Work on display illustrates the visual impact of Heavy Metal, exploring the motifs and myths of the music.

The featured artists, including Matius Faldbakken, Ben Venom, Harminder Judge and Amy Sarkisian, use typography, vintage t-shirts, sculpture and sound to explore the varying aesthetic features of Heavy Metal and its relationship to contemporary art. The artists, both national and international, take inspiration from the genre, whilst exploring notions of fantasy, chaos, performance and musical devotion.

‘You Should Be Living’ references the title track from the debut Napalm Death record ‘Scum’ and, thirty years after the formation of the band, a special collaborative piece has been commissioned for this exhibition. French artist and Grindcore fanatic Damien Deroubaix and Napalm Death founder Nicholas Bullen will present their sculptural construction containing text and abstractions, embedded video monitors, audio cables and microphones, referencing the work of both artists and the ‘Scum’ album.

http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/wolves

Wolverhampton Art Gallery is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities. More information can be found here.

Supported by Arts Council England, Renaissance West Midlands, MLA, Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage.