Sonia Boyce: Like Love Parts One and Two

About

This multi-media installation by Sonia Boyce originated from a residency at Meriton School for Young Parents in Bristol, where it was shown at Spike Island last October. The exhibition explores universal ideas around the concept of care — the emotion we invest in others and in the making of works of art. In Bristol, Boyce produced a series of artworks from classroom discussions, which address fragmentary experience of longing, and raise questions about due care and contemporary life. The exhibition will evolve across three partner venues in Bristol, Liverpool and Stoke, and each manifestation of the show will be different. The second stage of Like Love in Liverpool will feature elements from the Meriton alongside new work made by Boyce in collaboration with the Blue Room, a year round arts service for adults with learning disabilities that operates three days a week at the Bluecoat, in partnership with Liverpool City Council. The different encounters with care these adults have experienced inspired and informed Boyce's new works. Like Love is accompanied by another exhibition Action for which Boyce has been invited to take on the role of curator in celebration of her involvement in Black Skin/Bluecoat, her first exhibition here in 1985. Her selection showcases emerging British artists whose themes, issues and approaches (loosely defined as ‘Post Black') differ from the platform of ideas presented 25 years ago. The paradoxical nature of this presentation - on the one hand highlighting the work of 'black' artists, while at the same time opening up a debate on what constitutes their practice - is a timely and critical position. In asking Boyce to take on the role of curator as well as producer, it is hoped that the theme of ‘care' will be extended to include examination of artists' professional practice, as well as the nurturing role of the Bluecoat.