Let's talk about climate: Flagship exhibition coming to Honiton

For the first time, Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) will present an exhibition across two towns – Honiton and Exmouth.

The arts can raise questions, find different perspectives and create new opportunities to help us understand and adapt to our changing planet.

Climate Conversations has been developed against the context of the East Devon District Council (EDDC) commitment to Devon's Climate Change Emergency declaration and University of Exeter's declaration of an environment and climate emergency.

The programme opens with flagship exhibition, Land/Sea, by photographic artist Mike Perry across two sites: THG in Honiton and Ocean in Exmouth.

Climate Conversations opens dialogue about key environmental themes:

Reduce, reuse and recycle

Encourage energy efficiency

Nature Reserves and green spaces

Sustainable food systems

Ruth Gooding, THG Curator, commented: "Mike Perry's work offers a unique opportunity to rethink our impact on the planet and its resources with fresh eyes.

"The works capture a haunting beauty with methodical precision, leaving you with many questions about the coexistence of the natural and manmade."

Speaking on his art, Mike Perry said: "After collecting pieces of plastic washed up on the beaches near where I live, I bring them back to the studio.

"I then photograph the objects one to one, straight on to camera and with flat natural light. My intention is to reduce the objects to their formal states separating them for a moment from any meaning beyond their sculptural presence.

"The purpose is to make us think about the materiality of these objects, where they might have come from, how they physically break down into the food chain and how nature sculpts these man-made objects into strange new forms."

Mike Perry's work engages with significant and pressing environmental issues, in particular the tension between human activity and interventions in the natural environment, and the fragility of the planet's ecosystems (be that marine or land).

Mike Perry Land/Sea

20 May – 14 August 2021, Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG): Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX

Open Thursday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm.