Alison Wilding at the Whitworth

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor
Alison Wilding at the Whitworth
Alison Wilding, In a Dark Wood, 2012. Courtesy of Karsten Schubert, London

Alison Wilding at The Whitworth, Manchester 16 February — 12 August 2018 Entrance is free

Best known for her later, abstract sculptures combining traditional materials like wood, stone and bronze, with others such as steel, beeswax, oil and silk, Alison Wilding is considered to be one of Britain’s foremost sculptors.

A new exhibition at the Whitworth brings together a series of works spanning the past 20 years of the Turner Prize nominee’s career, including In a Dark Wood (2012) – a dynamic, almost hologram-like structure made of reclaimed laminated iroko timber and acrylic, which has never previously been publicly shown. A new piece, Reversing (2017), will also feature in the show, and takes the form of a hand-printed Japanese wallpaper that playfully reworks William Morris’ signature, hypnotic Acanthus motif asymmetrically.

At the heart of Wilding’s work is an ongoing interest in seemingly opposition. Contrasting materials, textures and colours, as well as other polarities such as light and dark, revelation and concealment, feature throughout her practice; repeatedly confounding the viewer’s expectations and asking us to reconsider the world around us.

Presented within the aesthetically-sympathetic surroundings of the Whitworth, Wildings’s exhibition looks set to hold all the haptic appeal and visual curiosity that makes her work such a delight to encounter.

Alison Wilding at The Whitworth, Manchester 16 February — 12 August 2018 Entrance is free

What's on at The Whitworth

OUTDOOR ART CLUB AT THE WHITWORTH
Until
ChildrensManchester
Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Enjoy fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely in the fresh air, while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.

free entry

Where to go near Alison Wilding at the Whitworth

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Big Hands

Big Hands is the one-time haunt of legendary Manchester band Elbow; it’s shabby, loud and dark, with a jukebox and excellent roof terrace.

The Giving Tree
Manchester
Restaurant
The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a cafe and community hub based in Rusholme, a short walk from the city centre.

Pankhurst Centre
Manchester
Museum
The Pankhurst Centre

The Pankhurst Centre houses a small museum and heritage centre that remains as a legacy to the Pankhurst family and the Suffragette movement born in this city.

Manchester
Music venue
Manchester Academy 3

Brilliant venue for catching a touring band on the rise. The boringly titled Academy 3 or more interesting Hop and Grape, as it was once known, is a self contained…

Manchester Academy music venue on Oxford Road Manchester.
Manchester
Music venue
Manchester Academy

The Manchester Academy is a mid size, modern warehouse venue adjacent to the University of Manchester Students’ Union. It lacks any architectural merit and has always been a difficult place…

Christie’s Bistro, Manchester. Courtesy Christie’s Bistro
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Christie’s Bistro

This wood-panelled former science library – part of a cluster of neo-Gothic buildings designed for the University of Manchester by Alfred Waterhouse (he of Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum fame) – has a wonderfully bookish interior that turns lunch into something of an event.

Whitworth Park, Manchester
Manchester
Park
Whitworth Park

This 18-acre park opposite the Manchester Royal Infirmary provides a welcome patch of green in an otherwise densely populated and heavily used part of the city.

Cafe at the Museum
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
The Cafe
at the Museum

Manchester Museum’s cafe is run by the people behind award-winning cafe Teacup Kitchen. The menu features home-baked cakes, the finest loose leaf teas and breakfast, as well as a wide selection of mains and meals for kids.

What's on: Exhibitions

Culture Guides

Teenage Dads
Music in Manchester and the North

Fresh concert seasons, forward-thinking festivals and a revolving door of amazing gigs. Things are looking bright as spring comes into view.