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New exhibition by Larry Achiampong will open at Turner Contemporary in Margate

Turner Contemporary, located along Margate’s picturesque seafront, is opening a new exhibition by artist Larry Achiampong this March.

Wayfinder: Larry Achiampong & JMW Turner opens on Saturday, March 12 and will include the artist's first feature film and an interactive gaming room.

Turner Contemporary is located along the seafront in Margate. Picture: Carlos Dominguez
Turner Contemporary is located along the seafront in Margate. Picture: Carlos Dominguez

This is the first major solo exhibition by Larry Achiampong, a British-Ghanian artist who has previously worked in film, sculpture, installation, sound, collage, music and performance.

Visitors to the gallery will be able to view Larry's feature-length film, Wayfinder, about a young girl’s journey across England. Set in a pandemic, the film encourages a dialogue about class, economics, belonging and heritage.

“I am so excited to share the expansive vision of this story which marks a new and exciting stage in my art practice,” says the 37-year-old. “I never set out to create a film of this size, but due to the scope of ideas that evolved along the way, it increasingly became inevitable that this would become my first feature film.”

Wayfinder: Larry Achiampong & JMW Turner is opening this March at Turner Contemporary. Picture: Larry Achiampong and DACS/Artimage 2022
Wayfinder: Larry Achiampong & JMW Turner is opening this March at Turner Contemporary. Picture: Larry Achiampong and DACS/Artimage 2022

The Wayfinder exhibition will also include a gaming room, created in collaboration with Turner Contemporary along with BAFTA Young Game Designers, The Prince’s Trust and Into Games.

The gaming room will showcase the video games that inspired Larry’s work. This interactive space will allow visitors to play with consoles, attend game design workshops and listen to game soundtracks - and the best part is, it’s all free to access.

Larry Achiampong is a London-borned artist. Picture: Benedict Johnson and Larry Achiampong/Copperfield London
Larry Achiampong is a London-borned artist. Picture: Benedict Johnson and Larry Achiampong/Copperfield London

Artists displaying exhibitions at Turner Contemporary are also invited to explore the legacy of JMW Turner and introduce audiences to historic art.

Larry has chosen oil paintings, watercolours and other pieces from the artist’s expansive body of work.

Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps exhibited 1812 by JMW Turner. Picture: tate.org.uk/art/work/N00490
Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps exhibited 1812 by JMW Turner. Picture: tate.org.uk/art/work/N00490

“This project feels like a poignant moment for me, not just professionally and as a maker of films, but also personally,” says the London-born artist. “It has felt very important and necessary, especially at this point in time to be able to bring this range of subject matter and conversations to the table at what is increasingly becoming a contentious moment of our times.”

Wayfinder: Larry Achiampong & JMW Turner is open from Saturday, March 12 until Sunday, June 19.

Tickets to Turner Contemporary are free, but must be booked online in advance here.

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