Lore at Sunny Bank Mills

LORE was a group exhibition featuring 14 artists exploring contemporary folklore through their practice.

Folklore is continually evolving and can be used as a tool to help us connect and make sense of personal and social landscapes that can be challenging to navigate.

Folklore is created by people. It encompasses customs, tales, sayings, dances, material objects or any art forms preserved among a people, rooted in place and time, memorialising communities and celebrating the personal craft of the artist or artists.

‘This new work signifies Kit’s reconnection with their roots in rural Cumbria, and explores the overlaps of Scottish, Northumbrian and Cumbrian folklore with queerness and otherness. Over time, their appreciation has grown for the folk culture, history and natural beauty they were surrounded by during their childhood.

“Nature has always held and accepted me, even when I thought what I needed was the urban landscape, and social life. This sense of belonging is never cliquey or performative.”

As part of LORE, Kit made and photographed three characters. Once these characters were created, it became clear to Kit that they could all be seen as symbols of death, rebirth and cycles.’

“Ga’an Fettle” is currently off display, and will be featuring next in march at the FolkLore Museum in Tordmorden.