Atchin Tan - Travelling Through Art in Worcester
“Being able to visit such a captivating exhibition in my own area where my family have a settled Atchin Tan made me feel so honoured to see the story of our heritage being told in such a powerful and visual way.”
Stacey Hodgkins from the Travellers’ Times visits the Atchin Tan exhibition at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
Worcestershire is historically a well-known area for Gypsy and Traveller communities. From attending the preview of the Atchin Tan exhibition at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, I was better able to understand the context of this important journey through art and why Atchin Tan was happening now.
The Atchin Tan exhibition draws you in from the start and as soon as you enter the gallery you encounter historical illustrations of travelling life from Turner, Gainsborough, Munnings and Laura Knight. As you continue to travel around the gallery you then see modern day representations by contemporary Gypsy and Traveller artists.
This exhibition forms part of the wider Vardo Project which is in its fourth year of development. Not far away in rural Worcestershire is the Worcestershire County Museum which is home to a big collection of Vardos - which is where the project started.
WATCH: Curator Georgie Stevens talks to the Travellers’ Times Dan Haworth-Salter:
Georgie Stevens is Curator of the Vardo Project and has been collecting oral histories from families within the local area. In her opening speech at the preview, she spoke about her inspiration for this exhibition and gave the following explanation:
“What I realised when visiting and talking to families, was that in order to best show who we are and what we are all about, we feel more comfortable sharing our art, our creative talent and skills as opposed to merely describing and telling," said Georgie Stevens.
"The inspiration came as faces lit up and warmth was felt over family photographs and sharing our stories of how families connected in local Worcestershire and Herefordshire hop fields with something bonding and special," added Stevens.
"Our identity, our culture, our heritage, unknowingly hidden, unearthed and shared . The thought came we need to rokker more, maybe we do need to trust and share more. This exhibition is for us, by us and anyone enthusiastic and interested enough to learn."
Richard O’Neill, storyteller and author of books such as The Can Caravan and The Lost Homework, had been invited to give an opening speech to the exhibition. He followed Georgie with his viewpoint on the importance of this exhibition and why its needed:
“We have gone from coming into an art gallery like this where you might get lucky and see something that somebody has done about us, but younger people today will be able to come into this gallery and see work done by artists from their community," said Richard O’Neill.
"That is the change, that is the shift and for me that’s the most wonderful thing to be able to come in and not only see yourself represented but see yourself represented by those people," added O'Neill.
Artists in this exhibition include Corrina Eastwood, Imogen Bright Moon, Jane O’Connor and her husband, Juliette Jeffery and Dan Turner - to name a few.
I was able to speak to artists involved at the preview of this exhibition and gain views on why it was so important and needed.
Imogen Bright Moon gave the following thoughts:
“The most important thing I think about the exhibition is that it allows Romany and Traveller artists to actually bring forward their own imagery of themselves in contrast of the portraits of Laura Knight and the Turners which is more like Romany people as subjects.”
"Also, how you see yourself and other people see you and bringing that together in one space. Georgie’s very beautifully got those two stories balanced . It is almost like a visual revival of Romany culture," added Bright Moon.
For myself on a personal level, I felt that this exhibition was a truly empowering experience. Being able to visit such a captivating exhibition in my own area where my family have a settled Atchin Tan made me feel so honoured to see the story of our heritage being told in such a powerful and visual way.
WATCH: Artist Corrinna Eastwood talks to the Travellers’ Times Dan Haworth-Salter:
Throughout the evening the room had an exciting buzz about it. I had the chance to speak to artist Corrina Eastwood, who has several pieces featured in this exhibition.
I asked her about her collection of works and how she would like people to engage with it. She told me the following:
“I produced a piece called Deathless Death,” said Corinna Westwood.
“It feels like a final piece in a long body of work that’s been happening," added Eastwood.
"I would like people to engage with an open mind and really want it to be accessible."
"Contemporary Art can sometimes not feel accessible for a lot of people, but I would hope that especially tying in more historical artefacts people may feel invited in."
"I use film, photography, self-portraiture and sculpture. A lot of my sculptural works are made from objects that are inherited - like family heirlooms."
"I think you can feel the human aspect of these works. Primarily I think of myself as a sort of visual activist and think about a lot of my work being able to invite people to understand about community.”
WATCH: Artist Jane O' Connor talks to the Travellers’ Times Dan Haworth-Salter:
The final artist we were able to speak to was Jane O‘Connor who paints traditional Romani Art. O' Connor gave us some thoughts about her work and what she would like people to take away from the exhibition:
“The inspiration for work came from the rich history of Romani caravans and that’s what I fell in love with.”
“I learned how to paint in the traditional style when living on the road. I want people to see the rich history and to see that it’s moved on - also, that there’s lots of exciting work being done by people from a Traveller background," added O'Connor.
The exhibition runs until the 5th January 2025, and there is something for everyone. There is a trail for the children, pop-up vardo with the traditional objects and various works of art which will take you on a wonderful journey from past until present day.
By Stacey Hodgkins
(Photographs and video by Dan Haworth-Salter for the Travellers' Times)
Atchin Tan - Travelling through Art
26 October 2024 - 5 January 2025
Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Foregate St
Worcester
WR1 1DT
United Kingdom