Why it matters: The free event offers residents a chance to experience innovative local art that challenges traditional ideas about communication and connection.
The details: The exhibition, titled "Word", runs from 18:00 to midnight on Saturday, 28 June at CHIp Studios at 16 Turret Lane in Ipswich.
Entry is free with donations encouraged, and a licensed bar will operate throughout the evening.
The show features work from more than 10 artists, combining physical pieces, visual art and audio installations across two rooms. One space focuses on interactive elements where visitors can contribute through writing on surfaces, post-it notes, or using a typewriter, whilst the other serves as an event space for live performances.
What they're saying: Co-founder Leo explained how the exhibition came together: "We took members of the Cognito collective around town and took audio and visual reference from Word in its natural place, whether being on walls and graffiti or street signs or logo branding or even just chatter that we heard. We interviewed people and asked them to tell us what 'word' meant to them."
Co-founder Max reflected on connections beyond language barriers: "My deepest connections have been with people that can't speak the same language as me." He explained how this led him to explore communication beyond traditional words: "There's things beyond words like sound, vibration, like showing someone something, laughing with someone."
The bigger picture: The exhibition explores how words serve as "the starting process for the birth of pretty much anything, whether that's a situation or an object", whilst also examining alternative forms of communication including those used by people with dyslexia who "are able to communicate in perhaps a different way".
The collective conducted a workshop during the first day of BTC, taking artists around town to gather inspiration for new pieces created specifically for this exhibition.
What to expect: Visitors can experience an "audio visual showcase of lyricism, poetry and graffiti" featuring DJs, live music, and an unofficial open mic for poetry and rap performances. Interactive elements collected during the exhibition will contribute to future shows by the collective.
The bottom line: Tomorrow's exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience how local artists are exploring communication and human connection through innovative, participatory art.
