A major exhibition at The Turnpike Gallery shines a light on the role the arts can play in recovery from addiction and mental health conditions.
Beyond the Surface, which runs from 25 September-23 November 2024, celebrates 10 years of recovery arts across the borough of Wigan.
It showcases the work of Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, a groundbreaking north west arts organisation that uses dance and movement to support recovery.
At the centre of the Leigh exhibition is a new digital dance, sound and light installation called Samadhi.
Featuring a mix of professional and community dancers, the immersive installation plays out in its own dedicated gallery space. The work is inspired by the real-life experiences of Fallen Angels’ north west recovery communities and showcases dancers who are all themselves in recovery.
It is a collaboration with digital technologist Noel Jones, who has added startling augmented reality twists to the performance, including flaming halos and mirror imagery.
In addition, exhibition visitors will be able to view behind the scenes footage of the making of the film and catch a glimpse of the actual costumes worn by the dancers.
Earlier this year, Fallen Angels travelled to London to perform a dance piece called Inertia at the Royal Opera House accompanied by New Note Orchestra, a Brighton-based collective of musicians in recovery. Samadhi uses this acclaimed work, which was seen by sold out audiences in their thousands, as a springboard, transforming it for a digital audience.
The word samadhi is derived from the Sanskrit roots “sam”, meaning together or integrated and “dhi”, which means to hold or place. According to Fallen Angels’ artistic director Paul Bayes-Kitcher, it signifies a state of complete concentration, stillness, and union with the object of meditation.
The exhibition will also feature a collection of Fallen Angels artworks spanning 2014-2024. They were previously on display at Science Gallery London and Tate Liverpool. A 12-piece photograph wall, projections that you can move with, a 10 minute feature film called We Rise and interactive provocations complete the exhibition.
Beyond the Surface launches during Greater Manchester’s Recoverist Month, which is the UK’s only annual arts-based awareness event that places people in recovery from substance use centre stage. It was founded in 2023 by Mark Prest, director of Portraits of Recovery.
It is a Fallen Angels exhibition delivered in partnership with The Turnpike Gallery and Portraits of Recovery.
Paula Patterson, 60, who now volunteers with the group as a “Supporting Angel”, started her recovery journey over eight years ago. Attending Fallen Angels Movement workshops at The Turnpike Gallery quickly became an important part of her week.
She said: “I was attending a Wigan and Leigh recovery group when I saw a poster for a Fallen Angels movement and dance for people in recovery. Right away I thought ‘that is me’.
“Talking is a very good tool for recovery, but with dance and movement, it’s just completely different.
“I love the adrenaline rush and feeling of empowerment that comes from dancing. You can express your story and your feelings about your recovery without having to verbally explain things. Dance gets right to the pit of your stomach, right to your core, your soul.
“At Fallen Angels Movement you feel safe. There is no judgement about who you were or who you are.
“It has helped me to rebuild my sense of self worth and confidence, having been in such a low, dark place: to realise that I have value and I am valued.”
Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet portfolio holder for communities, said “It is a real honour to host this esteemed exhibition here in Leigh, highlighting the role that arts can play in recovery. This will be a really meaningful installation, and I’d encourage everyone to visit and experience it.
“Arts and culture are crucial for wellbeing, and we are proud to invest in them as a council.”
Paul Bayes-Kitcher, co-founder, Fallen Angels, said: “Fallen Angels group members engage in daily practices such as grounding and meditation to establish a deeper connection with themselves.
“These important self-care behaviours have inspired the creation of the digital dance piece Samadhi, incorporating the movements and motions of bodies in recovery from substance use and those living with mental health conditions.
“The immersive experience aims to convey journeys of healing experienced by people in recovery.
Beyond the Surface is at The Turnpike Gallery, Leigh from 25 September-23 November 2024. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of workshops and a launch event on 26 September 2-4pm with Turnpike Gallery, Fallen Angels and Portraits of Recovery.
Fallen Angels Movement free workshops for people in recovery from addiction and those living with mental health conditions from Wigan and Leigh are at The Turnpike Gallery from 25 September 1-3pm. To book contact hello@fallenangelsdt.org For more information https://fallenangelsdt.org/
