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LIMFestival officially kicked off last night as Purple Revolver launched the LIMF art gallery at the Albert Dock’s Grand Hall with live performances from KOF, Curtis Watt and rising star Sofia Ben-Yousef.
Liverpool International Music Festival Curator Yaw Owusu approached Purple Revolver to help achieve the festival’s artistic ambitions by creating a gallery space which reflects the festival’s aim to produce world firsts in art.
Acting as an extension of the festival, the gallery weaves together art and music through new works inspired by the city’s musicians and shining a spotlight on Liverpool’s musical heritage and future.
The exhibition is called Tomorrow Never Knows and houses four stand-alone pieces, all highlighting how music is hardwired into the city’s DNA.
(Watch Bay TV’s video of the gallery launch at the bottom of the article).
The project also encompasses Liverpool’s essence of originality and ‘doing things our way’ as you can see in the ideas behind Mark McNulty’s new portraits.
Tomorrow Never Knows is also the name of the Beatles sculpture which re-imagines Mount Rushmore with the faces of the Fab Four replacing the Presidents, created by Terance McGunigle and Joe Forrest.
Marc D. Lewis has created a three canvas mural, bringing together many of the famous faces and inspirations for the festival.
Mark McNulty has created a new exhibition which places various musicians playing the festival in locations that may seem unexpected or unconventional of places that artists would typically choose to be photographed in the city.
Sgt Peppers Plastic Hearts Club Band is a re-working of the classic Beatles album cover by Elliot Chinnock, imagining what would happen if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hi-jacked the scene.
Speaking about the gallery, Purple Revolver Creative Director Andy Johnson said: “We’re honoured Yaw asked us to host the festival’s art gallery.
“The Beatles had to be a main feature, especially in recognition of the success of the Mathew Street Festival and the new direction LIMF is taking.
“But I felt it must be something original, which is a tall order with the Beatles, because it’s all been said and done before.
“We agonised over it for a week, thinking about trying to get some unseen photos to display or approaching the gallery from an avant garde angle, perhaps exploring Paul and John’s work with tape loops.
“But during a chat with my Mum about an old holiday to The States, she mentioned Mount Rushmore and the penny dropped.
“The exhibition takes its name from the Fab Four sculpture – Tomorrow Never Knows and it has been crafted by the highly talented Terry McGunigle and Joe Forrest, who are driving force behind a new art movement Tum’ Tum.’
“There’s also the re-working of the Sgt Peppers album cover using action figures, which will hopefully raise a few smiles. The show also boasts Mark McNulty’s new portrait collection and all together, it captures the essence of LIMFestival.
“We just hope we can make the city’s music and art fans proud.”
LIMF Music Curator Yaw Owusu added: “I wanted to include art elements, as I believe it is vital to the future development of the festival and attracting people into the city.
“The gallery and new commissions were inspired by LIMFestival’s artistic mission to celebrate greatness, discover the new and inspire the next.”
Tomorrow Never Knows will run at the Albert Dock’s Grand Hall (rear row next to What’s Cooking?) until September 22.