Turner Contemporary presents In The Offing, a group exhibition devised by renowned Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Leckey (b. 1964, Birkenhead). Embracing a dual role in this exhibition, Leckey serves as both artist and editor, utilising the concept of a magazine editorial as his foundation to choreograph an experience that seamlessly blends moving image, sound, light, and painting throughout the galleries. The phrase ‘in the offing’, dating back to the late 1700s, evokes the image of the distant sea visible from the shoreline and carries a sense of anticipation and foreboding, hinting at what lies on the horizon. Leckey has commissioned artists and musicians to make work responding to this title and will himself present a new video. The exhibition is the culmination of a multi-year project generously funded by Freelands Foundation as the Principal Supporter.
Since the late 1990s, Leckey’s influential practice has explored the relationship between popular culture and technology, and ideas around youth, class and nostalgia. Over the past six years Leckey has hosted a programme on NTS Radio presenting experimental music by emerging and established artists, several of whom will be featured in the exhibition alongside visual artists. The commissions will encompass themes of the horizon, the seaside, the past and the future, and will resonate with the wider social and political context of British coastal towns. Also inspired by Dreamland – the amusement park and music venue on Margate seafront – Leckey’s immersive approach in programming moving image, sound and light to appear and flow throughout the exhibition spaces, will give visitors the experience of both a gallery and fairground attraction.
Participating artists will include ANGUSRAZE, Lucy Duncombe, Theo Ellison, Ashley Holmes + Seekersinternational, Darren Horton, Mark Leckey, Lost at Sea Project, nakaya mossi, Charlie Osborne, Alessandro Raho, Hannah Rose Stewart + Blackhaine, and Iceboy Violet.
The exhibition will be curated with Melissa Blanchflower, Senior Curator, Turner Contemporary and will be accompanied by a live programme, details of which will be announced soon.
