The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, a world-class Norman Foster building on the University of East Anglia campus, was opened in 1978 to house the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection. Its permanent collections and temporary exhibition programme make it the principal venue in the region for world art and for the celebration of cultural diversity.
In the 21st century conflict has become a backdrop to all our lives. There are over 40 wars being fought in the world today, including the ‘war on terror’, and we are confronted everyday by news of abuse, gang violence, and knife and gun crime.
How do we make sense of it all?
AfterShock features the work of 16 international artists from countries including India, Argentina, Germany, Colombia, Ireland and the UK. Through video, photography and images taken from the media, they give us the voice of the individual, producing moving personal responses to the conflict and violence they have either directly or indirectly experienced. Together, the artists show us alternative narratives, arguing that the truth is not in any single image or collection of images, but somewhere in between.
AfterShock is guest curated by Yasmin Canvin in collaboration with the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and the University of Hertfordshire Galleries. The exhibition is supported by the Arts Council England and the Charles Wallace Trust.
