Hideout magazine

Issue 01

We are BCU’s creative students and we wanted to show other creative students where the best places are in Birmingham to find hidden art.

THE TEAM

Rochelle, Pheobe, Tudor, Josh and Uwais

CONTENTS What you can expect to find: Art Galleries and Exhibitions such as...

- The Custard Factory The Custard Factory is hidden on the outskirts of the city centre, in Digbeth. It hosts many art events and it’s a spectacular visit.

- Birmingham’s Museum and Art Gallery By looking at the building on the outside, you wouldn’t think it contained so many beautiful things on the inside.

- The Ikon Gallery The Ikon Gallery is hidden behind the busyness of Broad Street. It’s small but perfect for single exhibitions.

- The Library of Birmingham Its not particularly hidden but little do people know, it’s not your everyday library. With exhibitions inside and lots of relaxing spots, it’s perfect for any creative student.

libraryofbirmingham.com

Hidden in plain sight

D

espite being a brummie, I’ve only ever been to Birmingham’s art gallery twice in my life.

The first time was the week before I started university and the second a week after that, little did I know that I would really enjoy it...

I had no reason why I wanted to visit the museum, but two close friends of mine thought that it could be something spontaneous to do as it is open every day and is free to visit. They themselves didn’t particularly need to go to the gallery because they are not interested in art as a subject or even history for that matter but they too enjoyed it.

At one point in the gallery we had a little debate amongst ourselves about the Romans. It shows how you can learn from others and get everyone involved with a new and stimulating thought process.

The gallery changes all the time and they often have new exhibitions so you’re most likely to find something new if you wanted to visit again in the future. I like the new information that you can gain and I definitely liked letting them know about my opinions through the various different activities that you could get involved with, such as writing notes around the different sections. It shows how many different people can get involved and enjoy the art gallery.

We didn’t think there would be as many I didn’t think the art gallery would give me people as there was when we visited but such a wide perspective on history and a wide range of people came to see what art. It opened my eyes to many new things the art gallery had to exhibit. We, being and I think I will be returning there in the stereotypical, near future. Before I thought there visited I didn’t expect might be a lot to want to return so “I didn’t think the art gallery of older people many times. And now in there but we we’re even thinking would give me such a wide found that to be about going to other perspective on history and very untrue. galleries around Birmingham and art. It opened my eyes to Before even maybe even out of many new things and I think knowing what Birmingham, because university had as an 18-year-old I will be returning there in in store for me, I creative student, it’s the near future.” decided to take very beneficial to me. photographs And even if I wasn’t I at this museum, think its good to learn just because I found a lot of the stuff there new things and broaden your mind to get a interesting, and of course took a few selfies feel for different viewpoints. too. After knowing my project, I visited the museum a second time, with the same two Its admirable that my friends support me friends, in order to get some inspiration and into going to galleries for my work but also take some relevant photos. because they find interest from it also.

Whilst there I did pay attention to some of the history and found the history of Birmingham room quite captivating. It took us from the past to the present and the differences were unusual.

Despite who you are there’s always an opportunity to visit Birmingham’s Art Gallery.

LIBRARY of Birmingham

Statues, Hidden in Life

When you think of a ‘Hidden City’ you would often think to stray from the main paths and streets of the town, and to venture off into the areas that are not covered by the sounds of the citizens, but if you do just the opposite, you can pick out some interesting sights, not things that go completely unnoticed, but things that are perhaps tolerated rather than appreciated, hidden inbetween the surrounding ‘normal’ Statues are scattered all across the town, and you certainly don’t have to go out of your way to find them, they can be found in many public areas, the Bull Ring being the most prominent example, with the reputed bull placed right at the entrance.

Statues heavily contrast with the street art you can find in places like Digbeth, being acceptable in public areas and blending in to the surroundings as opposed to being frowned upon and seen as defacing of property, they are both types of art that can be displayed in the streets yet only statues can be stumbled upon without the need of further exploration of the city, it displays the opportunity street art could have to become acceptable in public areas, that maybe some day people can walk past ‘graffiti’’ with it being part of the normal, bringing the city of colours in to the actual city.

Standing tall wherever they are placed, the mere existance of a statue makes a very loud statement, “remember me”, they make you ask “why?”, why is this placed here? By doing this it sets you off to find an answer yourself, and you can find yourself immersed in history related to this statue that you see all of the time, it lets you take something away that isn’t just an opinion; yet still, the statues are stood in one place, and over time, seeing these statues day after day, this statement quietens, and becomes part of the large blur of the city when travelling from Point A to Point B. To me these statues are symbolic, they symbolise much more than just the history they impose, they symbolise the fact that the things that we see every day can become embedded as part of the city, part of its surroundings, part of the ‘normal’, sentencing them to a status of being hidden within it’s own importance, truly questioning what is or isn’t hidden throughout the city.

T

he custard factory is just a five minute walk from the Bull Ring. It was taken over in 1988 and has been developed and expanded to become a hugely inspirational and popular creative area. The custard factory is now home to over five hundred original and unique businesses including many independant shops. It is renowned for regularly hosting fantastic fairs, great galleries and magical music events.

The excitment of my first visit to the custard factory was greatly increased as I approached a wide range of vibrant coloured buildings. The fronts of the dramatic buildings had quirky fonts and illustrative typography which grabbed my attention instantly. I found myself noticing the contrast between the mixture of simple, older designs of buildings and bold modern art. The bright, positive colours and use of graphics and illustrations, including graffiti compliment the older structures of the buildings which creates an artistic and expressive atmosphere. Whilst walking along the cobbled street I noticed rows of glass windows which allowed me to see inside the main building.

Here I could see the cutting-edge interior decor in the reception, the unique sculptures and contemporary design in this old building reflects and symbolises the renovation modernization of thearea. Here I could see the cutting-edge interior decor in the reception, the unique sculptures and contemporary design in this old building reflects and symbolises the renovation modernization of the area.I would recommend to any creative new- comer to birmingham to spend time in the custard factory. My experience at the custard factory was extremely rewarding and inspiring, I like that the historical parts of birmingham has combined with the contemporary, creative birmingham to produce a vital creative and inspiratioal area. However I feel like there is a lot that I still need to discover.

JINXY ART The custard factory is a hive of activity for independant shops and small businesses.

I found various shops that suit my taste including record shops, vintage clothing outlets and alternative cafes, however one gallery in particular captured my interest. I discovered ‘Jinxy,’ a small gallery found within in the centre of the custard factory.

Jinxy art creatives original paintings and comissioned art using cutting edge and controversial techniques.

Many of his work are portaits however his most recent collection includes his signiture ‘coffee art range.’ I found the concept of this naturalistic approach very diverse and inspiring. This technique appears to allow him to develop a range of striking textures and shades.

Using this remarkable approach as a medium within his work creates dark tones and shades giving depth to his paintings and also creates an earthy style.

Hidden Architecture

Hidden Art in The Hidden City of Birmingham TeamHideout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTlw8dwXfcw