RADICAL ACTS

Image: Celia Pym © Michele Panzeri

The meaning of ‘radical’ can be traced back to the word ‘root’, and in Radical Acts, craft is presented as a bridge between our roots and our future.

Each exhibitor at the second edition of the Harewood Biennial tackles an urgent issue of modern life with a resourceful attitude and hopeful intent, using their craft to reflect on human connection, social equality and representation, climate change and conservation, material potential and natural resources, land use and landfill.

Image: The Terrace at Harewood credit Visit England and Thomas Heaton

Opening on Saturday 26 March, Radical Acts: Why Craft Matters will take place across the grounds and interiors of Harewood House, an accredited museum and educational Charitable Trust located just outside of Leeds. The Biennial traces and builds on the great craftsmanship in the house, from the largest commission of Chippendale in the 18th century, to the present day.

Many exhibitors will explore Harewood’s own roots and its future, as the Trust continues to reimagine what makes a historic house and its landscape relevant in the 21st century. They will also reflect on, and respond to, important conversations around restoration and repair, regeneration, and wellbeing.

Image: Celia Pym © Michele Panzeri

One of the exhibitors taking part in the Harewood Biennial 2022 is Celia Pym. The textile artist has undertaken a residency at Harewood, setting up a ‘mending desk’ for a week where she asked Harewood’s collections care teams and wider staff to bring a garment for her to repair, in exchange for a story of how these individuals care, repair and look after Harewood, and what the item meant to them. These 16 items will be exhibited in the Old Library with their stories behind them, exploring the radical act of care and repair.

Not so long ago, we wouldn’t have thought twice about getting out the sewing box and mending holes in our clothes. Today, thanks to the rise of fast fashion and the decline of our patience and skills at darning, we tend to consider worn out garments as no longer of use.

Image: Celia Pym, Hope's Sweater (1951) © Michele Panzeri

Celia has a unique approach. She is on a crusade to help us not just mend our clothing, but re-appraise what the things we wear mean to us in the process. She believes clothes aren’t just a second skin for the body, but are a conduit for so much more – our clothes tell stories of our lives, our habits, behaviours and relationships.

In this podcast series accompanying the Harewood Biennial, curator Hugo Macdonald meets the designers, artists, makers and creators who are using craft and design to tackle the urgent crises that shape our lives. Listen to Celia Pym's episode here: 

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The Harewood Biennial returns in March 2022. Visit the exhibition from Saturday 26 March - Monday 29 August 2022.

Find out more on the Harwood website: www.harewood.org