Hew Locke and Dr Gus Casely-Hayford | Artist Talk | Birmingham Cathedral

Hales is excited to announce Hew Locke will be in conversation with Dr Gus Casely-Hayford on Thursday 14th July to discuss his new public artwork, Foreign Exchange.

Hew Locke's new work reimagines Birmingham's Queen Victoria sculpture and is the culmination of two decades of research and exploration into historic statues. A monument often overlooked by passers-by, Locke draws attention to contemporary conversations around the symbolic power of public statuary. Reaching over seven meters high, Foreign Exchange wraps around the existing Queen Victoria statue, preserving its original state. Depicting a boat carrying five smaller replica statues of Queen Victoria, each figure wears a helmet, reminiscent of that worn by Britannia, and a replica medal signifying an important battle in the history of the British Empire.

This event is part of The Migrant Festival 2022 and Ikon's Arrivals programme for Summer 2022, concerned with the international movement of people and ideas and organised to coincide with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The talk will take place at Birmingham Cathedral on 16th July 2022 at 6pm BST.

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Hew Locke in Conversation with Dr Gus Casely-Hayford
Birmingham Cathedral
Cathedral Square
Colmore Row
Birmingham
B3 2QB

14 July 2022

Click here for the IKON Gallery website.