Artranspennine08

The Transpennine Memorabilia Collection

Date: Friday 15th August 2008, 6-9pm

Venue: 29 Rockdove Avenue, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5EH

For Artranspennine08, Kwong Lee visited charity and junk shops in the Transpennine region collecting discarded memorabilia that represents the region’s villages, towns or cities. These objects, formerly cherished by the original purchasers as symbols of connection, identity and pride, will once again take the limelight in a one-night only display in a residential living room.

The collection is a snapshot of local interests that contrasts with the generalisation that aspirations to internationalism bring. While it may be hard to distinguish places by their contemporary architecture or high street shops, the images selected to represent their locations are often historical buildings or structures that, over time, have varying significance and reverence. These popular images are channelled through objects that have a function within both local pride and tourism.

The 25 or so collected objects are reproductions of copper or steel etchings, watercolours, pencil or colour pencil drawings, hand-coloured steel engravings, embroideries and photographs. They are mostly manufactured on paper, metal plates, ceramic plates, thimbles, jigsaws and metal spoons. A few appear to be unique and hand-crafted.

Visitors are welcome to bring their own souvenirs and memorabilia from the Transpennine region to donate to the collection. After the one night display the collection will be available for loan free of charge, for display in a home, workplace or public space.