By Dan Thompson
Turner Contemporary’s next exhibition, titled In The Offing, brings together a group of artists, musicians, and film-makers.
The exhibition has been devised by Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Leckey. He started his time in Margate with the 1953 documentary O Dreamland, filmed by Lindsay Anderson, as he began to explore what makes the town distinct.
He soon came across the nautical origins of the phrase ‘in the offing’, which means looking out for approaching ships from the shore – the ‘offing’ being the area towards the horizon which can be seen from shore.
He found a similar sense of anticipation to that in the O Dreamland film, which follows day trippers as they arrive in town, so commissioned artists and musicians to make work responding to this phrase.
Artists and musicians in the show include ANGUSRAZE, Lucy Duncombe, Theo Ellison, Ashley Holmes + Seekersinternational, Darren Horton, Lost at Sea Project, Nakaya Mossi, Charlie Osborne, Alessandro Raho, Hannah Rose Stewart + Blackhaine, and Iceboy Violet.
Since the late 1990s, Leckey’s work has explored the relationship between popular culture and technology.
He is particularly interested in rave culture and hosts a radio show dedicated to experimental music. Some of the people he has commissioned are young musicians he has featured on his show.
The exhibition will bring together moving image, sound and light through the exhibition spaces, and Leckey promises it will give visitors an experience between a gallery and a fairground attraction.
Alongside Leckey’s exploration of Margate, a group of Emerging Producers have been on their own exploration of Margate. For In The Offing, they have worked alongside the gallery’s team to re-design the Clore Learning Studio space as a hub for creativity. They have created a space which takes inspiration from faded seaside resorts. The space will host art workshops and the Children’s Art Library during the day and turn into a music venue for emerging local talent on selected evenings.
In The Offing is at Turner Contemporary, Margate from 7 October – 14 January 2024. Full details of the programme created by the Emerging Producers group will be announced soon.
