INTO THE WYLD

In 2024, the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead came alive with Into the Wyld, a groundbreaking contemporary art festival presented by Material Matters. The festival explored the enduring legacy of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and its unique connection to the Wirral landscape, blending ancient narrative with modern artistic interpretations.

From 1st August to 21st December 2024, we took up residency at the Williamson, transforming the gallery into a hub of creativity and cultural exploration. The festival featured over 20 invited artists from across the region, alongside a five-month programme of performance art, poetry readings, workshops for children, film screenings, and a scholarly symposium.

The festival’s core comprised three exhibitions, each examining a central theme of the Gawain poem through contemporary artistic responses:

• ‘Nature’ curated by Patric Rogers (1st August – 13th September)

• ‘Chivalry’ curated by John Elcock (19th September – 25th October)

• ‘Spirituality’ curated by Angelo Madonna (7th November – 21st December)

A parallel programme titled ‘Weavers’, curated by Silvia Battista, offered performances, talks, workshops, and readings throughout the residency.

The Gawain poem, a masterpiece of the Middle Ages, tells the tale of King Arthur’s bold young nephew who, after striking a dangerous bargain with a mysterious Green Knight, embarks on a perilous journey to uphold his honour and keep his head. The poem’s depiction of the Wirral wilderness served as a central inspiration for the artists, who brought to life themes of nature, chivalry, and spirituality through their work.

Featured artists included Angelo Madonna, Silvia Battista, John Elcock, Patric Rogers (in collaboration with Amodali), Abbie Bradshaw, Alice Colquhoun, Nick Ball, Kris Darby, Will Dickie, Ryan Gauge, Anna Jane Houghton, Adrian Jeans, Oak Luca, Brendan Lyons, Izzie Major, Piotr Marchewka, Paul Mellor, Margaret O’Brien, Attila Olah, Nicky Perrin, Eleanor Rees, Sarah Jane Richards, Andrew Shaw, Craig Sinclair, Camille Smithwick, Pierce Starre, Angela Stringer, Serah Stringer, Catherine Swire, and Niamh Tam.

Each exhibition included family workshops, led by artists Madeleine Smart and Alexandra Hales, allowing children to engage with the themes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight through hands-on creative activities.

At the conclusion of each exhibition, Associate Professor Catherine Morris from Liverpool Hope University moderated public conversations with the participating artists, fostering dialogue around the modern-day interpretations of the poem’s timeless themes.