INTO THE WYLD

‘I’ve said this so many times, to so many people, that I’m starting to question my sanity, but… Into the Wyld is the best exhibition Williamson Art Gallery has hosted for a long, long time. I’m not saying the others were bad, I’m just saying that this is outstanding.

As a listener/reader/observer, whatever I/we/you am/are, the entire experience is like listening to a bed time story, and vehemently believing in the magic.’

Patrick Kirk-Smith. Published in Art in Liverpool

The project Into the Wyld was a five-month residency of the collective Material Matters (MM) at the Williamson Gallery and Museum. It consisted in a cultural journey into the mythical world of the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. It had four partners: The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum (WAGM), the cooperative Material Matters (MM), the Wirral Borough of Culture 2024 and Liverpool Hope University.

The general aim of the project was to reflect through storytelling, mythmaking, contemporary art and performance, on the profound ecological interconnections that sustain life on this planet. The Arthurian Tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a masterpiece of 14th century Middle English that directly cites the Wirral – ‘Over at the Holy Hede, til he hade eft bonk / In the wyldrenesse of Wyrale’ (Fitt 1, l.700-701) – where the WAGM is located. This allowed MM to explore the Wirral through all the questions that the tale triggers for our contemporary ecological and social crises.

The whole project consisted of three major exhibitions and a series of events at the WAGM; six performances; a talk; poetry readings, a symposium; children and family’s workshops around the three exhibitions; an audio walk accessed via a barcode; three public conversations with the artists. 

NATURE 

run from August-to September 2024, it explored the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knightspecifically around the theme of nature. Curated by Patric Rogers it featured the works by the following artists: Angelo Madonna, John Elcock, Patric Rogers, Silvia Battista, Brendan Lyons, Sarah Jane Richards & Attila Olah, Serah Stringer, Angie Stringer & Nicky Perrin (Landline), Olaf Rosenvinge.

CHIVALRY 

run from September to November 2024, it explored the tale around the theme of Chivalry. Curated by John Elcock it featured the following artists: Angelo Madonna, John Elcock, Patric Rogers, Silvia Battista, Andrew Shaw, Paul Mellor, Ryan Gauge, Piotr Marchewka and Craig Sinclair, W.L. Windus.

SPIRITUALITY 

run from November- December 2024 and explored the theme of spirituality. Curated by Angelo Madonna it featured works by the following artists: Angelo Madonna, John Elcock, Patric Rogers, Silvia Battista, Adrian Jeans, Amodali, Anna Jane Houghton / Abbie Bradshaw, Margaret O'Brien, Camille Smithwick, Niamh Tam, Oak Luca, Angie Stringer & Nicky Perrin (Landline).

WEAVERS 

run through the three exhibitions. Curated by Silvia Battista consisted of talks, poetry readings, performances and artists discussions by the following scholars and artists: Sarah Peverley, Elenor Rees, Madeleine Smart, Izzie Major, Alice Colquhoun, Catherine Morris, Craig Sinclair, Piotr Marchewka, Alexandra Hales, Will Dickie, Pierce Starre, Niamh tam, Silvia Battista, Amodali, Kris Darby.