Common Ground launch event

Join us to celebrate our latest installation Common Ground, with a reception and welcome from the UCL East Cultural and Community Engagement team.

Visual artist James Berrington conceived of Common Ground after spending time in nature during lockdown, when his daily walks in the Great North Wood in south London became a space for self-refection and calm. The large photographic installation and photobook, which is accompanied by the sound of birdsong, immerses the viewer in an ancient English woodland landscape.

Spending time in this ancient woodland was part of James’ mental health recovery and led him to question ideas around identity and, in the context of a seemingly shifting national identity pre- and post-Brexit, examine ideas of an Englishness rooted in myth, legend, clichés, stereotypes and symbolism.

Making and talking about Common Ground began an ongoing process of self-acceptance for James, just as sitting with the plants and animals, the sounds of the birds, and the smell of the earth in the woods gave him the breathing space to begin his mental health recovery.

We hope you will be able to join us.

Event timings:

6pm - arrival drinks

7pm - a few words from James Berrington and Sam Wilkinson (Director of Public Art, UCL)

7.30pm - food by Gather & Gather

Common Ground will run from 13 January - 27 February and is open 10am-6pm daily. Free and open to all.

Check out the rest of the events programme here.