Since I had no clear idea about the exhibition format, I conducted field research over the weekend, hoping to get some inspiration. I visited three exhibitions and tried to analyze their exhibition formats and highlights to have a clearer understanding of the current exhibition situation.

Exhibition1: Personal Accounts

1. Thoughts on the exhibition format

The format of this exhibition is a solo exhibition, which is a personal exhibition of Gabrielle Goliath, but the work itself is based on cooperation with different cities and different groups. The exhibition does not unfold in chronological order, but forms a geographical dialogue through video works in different cities (Johannesburg, Como, etc.).

The exhibition consists of multiple independent video works, each of which focuses on different individuals, places and social issues, such as:

• “There’s a River of Birds in Migration” (Johannesburg, 2023): about the survival status of transgender people

• “Lago di Como” (Como, 2024): about gender violence and repair of migrant women

• “Deinde Falase” (Johannesburg, 2023): about refugee identity, queer experience and state violence

These works can be viewed as individual narratives or as a whole, showing the structure of gender violence around the world and how individuals resist and survive in it.

2. Highlights of the exhibition

First of all, I think the theme of this exhibition is particularly good. At this stage, issues such as immigration are rarely discussed in the curatorial field, and this exhibition fills this gap by focusing on global issues such as gender violence, the situation of immigrants, and the living conditions of queer people. Secondly, the exhibition’s non-traditional narrative method is a highlight. It allows the audience to actively “listen” to those experiences that have not been fully expressed through the absence and remnants of sound (such as breathing, sighs, laughter, etc.), breaking the traditional documentary or interview model.

Exhibition 2: Piedras de Fuego (Fire Stone)

1. Thoughts on the exhibition format

The format of this exhibition is also the first solo exhibition in the UK, focusing on Guadalupe Maravilla’s personal experience and what he has learned from healers around the world. The exhibition combines the theme of personal journey and healing through his artistic practice to form a very personal way of presentation.

2. Highlights of the exhibition

I think a notable feature of this exhibition is that it transforms the Georgian Gallery into a space of healing and regeneration, not only displaying artworks but also creating a field with healing power. In addition, the exhibition uses sound as an important tool through a carefully designed multi-sensory experience, which is integrated with visual artwork to form a holistic healing effect.

Exhibition 3: Everlyn Nicodemus: A Retrospective

1. Thoughts on the exhibition format

This exhibition is organized in chronological order. It reviews Everlyn Nicodemus’s artistic creation process from the 1980s to 2024. By displaying her works in different periods, the exhibition presents her artistic exploration and practice in different countries and cultural backgrounds and gradually reflects the evolution of her personal and artistic style.

2. Highlights of the exhibition

I think Everlyn’s works closely interweave personal experience with global social issues, explore issues such as women’s reproductive rights, racism, and colonialism, and reveal women’s struggles in different social contexts. At the same time, she also explores the fluidity of cultural identity, especially in her migration and language learning process. These profound self-identity reflections and explorations of identity are difficult to see in other exhibitions.

Through field visits to these exhibitions, I gained a deeper understanding of different exhibition formats and their unique presentation methods and began to think about the format of my own exhibition. However, I still have no clear direction on what format my exhibition should take, and I may need to further explore my theme to inspire more creativity and ideas.