By Evie Brett
The Norman Rea Gallery (based at the University of York) opened its doors for the opening night of the second exhibition of their 2024/25 programme on 27th November. ‘For Your Convenience’, curated by Vice Directors Rowan Hill and Maddie Gilbert, aimed to highlight the impacts of ‘Convenience Culture’ on both our everyday lives as well as the world around us. An often overlooked area of modern day consumerism, ‘Convenience Culture’ is a term describing a societal shift towards a more convenient lifestyle, a shift that manifests in issues such as ultra processed foods, single-use items, and fast fashion. As such, this exhibition sought to question the motivation behind these choices and raise queries about the impact that this way of living is causing. In rejection of this, the show at the Norman Rea Gallery championed both traditional modes of making as well as pieces made from repurposed and recycled materials.
Through the curation of the gallery space, the Norman Rea was transformed into a home-like setting, a conscious choice by the curators to force visitors to consider how ‘Convenience Culture’ has seeped into everyday lives. Each area of the gallery aimed to highlight a specific space in the home, from handmade ceramics in the ‘kitchen area’ (from local Northern Potters Association members), to crocheted wall hangings in the gallery’s ‘living room’. Indeed, it was in the long corridor of the Norman Rea, a space designated to explore ‘Convenience Culture’ through the eyes of the wardrobe, that some gorgeous pieces from the Conscious Apparel collection were displayed.
As Co-Director of the gallery myself, I was lucky enough to be involved in the curation and selection of artists we had showing at this exhibition. As soon as I heard about its aims and central theme, I just knew that some pieces from Conscious Apparel would make a fantastic addition. In an exhibit titled, ‘Wearing My Sister’s Clothes’, two outfits were shown, featuring the Ganges reversible gown, Kerala dress, as well as the Indus waisted gown, both accessorised with colourful, patterned silk necklaces. All pieces exhibited are part of a collection designed by Karin and Sylvia, made in India from recycled sarees. They use the traditional skill of shibori, a dip dyeing technique that originated in Japan and then travelled to India in the early 20th century. Today, craft clusters continue to be active in Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. In the words of Sylvia, in exhibiting these pieces, it was hoped that they ‘bring joy to the wearer and keep them connected with our sisters in India and those who made them’. It was a pleasure to exhibit these beautiful pieces within the Norman Rea Gallery and share Conscious Apparel with those at the University of York.
‘For Your Convenience’ at the Norman Rea is now open and will be running until Friday 13th December and the gallery is open everyday throughout the week, from 9:00am until 5:00pm. It is proudly the only student-run gallery in the UK and well worth a visit!
