Viruses
Niki Collier
Exhibition: 05/11/2020 to 22/01/2021
The University of Atypical is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibition Viruses by Niki Collier.
Viruses is Niki Collier’s first solo exhibition and is a new body of work from a practice that she describes as a ‘conversation on empathy and resilience’. Niki has for a number of years been developing these ideas through a series of textile sculptures inspired by micro-organisms including viruses, germs and reproductive cells such as the Common Cold, Norovirus and AIDS. The scale, visibility and tactility of these felted pieces reflect some of the intangible qualities that evade us in responding to coronavirus. The installation reflects our physical interaction with such micro-organisms; something that is particularly pertinent now as we learn to negotiate space as a virus alters and inhibits our movement.
Programmed prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, this timely exhibition reflects Niki’s long-term focus on microorganisms. Viruses is our featured exhibition to coincide with our annual arts festival Bounce 2020 running from the 4th – 6th of December.
During the festival we’ll host a felting workshop and artist talk, both of which will take place online via ZOOM.
During August 2020 and as part of NI Craft Month, Niki hosted four, weekly workshops for 25 participants, during which the group created pieces, some of which will feature in this exhibition. We would like to thank our participants who have contributed.
University of Atypical continues to operate inline with governmental Covid-19 guidelines, and as such the gallery is currently closed to the public, however you can view the space through the glass wall from our hallway for now.
Further details of the Bounce Programme 2020 will be announced soon.
We look forward to welcoming you to our online launch from Atypical Gallery on Thursday 5th of November at 5pm.
About the Artist
Niki Collier is a visual artist and maker, originally from Bulgaria, who now lives and works in Marlay Park, Dublin. Her background spans science, technology and art spheres, and is reflected in a connection with materials – primarily wool fibres – that is both decorative and functional. She regularly delivers talks and workshops, including a number for University of Atypical in recent years.
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Niki Collier: In conversation
Date: 22 January 2021
Time: 1pm – 2pm
Join us at the University of Atypical for an informal “in conversation” with artist and maker Niki Collier. This lunchtime talk is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions and get to know more about Niki’s practice.
We hope to host this talk in the gallery however this is subject to change, Covid 19 restrictions depending.
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Bounce Festival 2020
Felting Workshop with Niki Collier
Sunday 6th of December, 1pm – 2pm
Felt making, festive decoration workshop to celebrate St Nicholas day. This is an online workshop and to register for a place please fill in the registration form below. We will send participants a workshop pack in advance via the post. Your pack will include almost everything you will need to participate; you will need Zoom, a kettle and water.
CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM LINK
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Safety protocols:
‘Viruses’ Niki Collier
Exhibition: 05/11/2020 to 22/01/2021
Exhibition dates: 22 October 2019 to 15 November 2019
Programmed with Belfast International Arts Festival, Atypical Gallery presents Missing Voices, a participatory photographic project about the lives of young women with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), led by Queen’s University researcher Gillian O’Hagan and photographer Helen Sloan.
Over a five week period, Helen and Gillian worked with a group of nine adolescent girls from four schools across Belfast. Using smartphones, the girls produced a series of 34 photographs, giving a powerful and moving insight into their lives inside and outside of the mainstream school environment.
To complement the exhibition, Atypical Gallery will host a panel discussion and photovoice workshop from 7pm on the evening of Thursday 24 October.
Led by Gillian O’Hagan and Helen Sloan, this discussion will delve deeper into the focus of the Missing Voices project which aims to amplify the adolescent female voice of ASD. The panel will look at the importance of creative expression in helping girls with ASD to allow parents, teachers, friends and others to understand their experience of the world around them.
They will also discuss the chronic problem of misdiagnosis in female ASD, asking why practitioners continue to use male-led diagnostic criteria that leaves countless young girls unseen, unheard and unrepresented.
Gillian O’Hagan is a doctoral student at Queen’s University Belfast. She is also the SENCO and Head of Psychology in Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School in Belfast.
Helen Sloan is an Irish photographer best known for her work as primary stills photographer on the HBO series Game of Thrones.
Exhibition Dates: 13th June 2019 to 19th July 2019
Launch: Saturday March 30th 2019 2pm to 4pm
Exhibition Dates: April 1st to April 26th 2019
Launch: Saturday January 19th 2019 2pm to 4pm
Exhibition Dates: January 21st to March 1st 2019
Launch: Saturday November 10th 2018 2pm to 4pm
Exhibition Dates: November 12th to December 21st 2018
Launch: Thursday August 2nd 5.30pm to 8pm
Exhibition dates: August 3rd to August 31st