Showcase: Coronation Generation 2023

About The Exhibition

Showcase the work of the Coronation Generation 2023 Project!

Belfast Exposed is delighted to be hosting a showcase of work carried out as part of the Generation Coronation initiative, which we took part in earlier this year.

Coronation Generation asked young people from across the United Kingdom to produce creative artwork to mark the Coronation of Charles III in May 2023, focusing on the themes of community, diversity, sustainability and youth. It was coordinated by the Ideas Foundation, with organisations from the four nations that make up the United Kingdom chosen to facilitate the production of creative work.

As part of Coronation Generation, Belfast Exposed engaged with over 50 young people to create a series of portraits that were then prepared for display using cyanotype printing. One of the world's oldest forms of photographic printing, cyanotypes have a unique blue hue and their creation involved hands-on work from all participants. As well as planning, posing for and taking portraits, the young people involved were, therefore, able to experience more unusual photographic techniques, such as working with negatives and using a dark room.

This touring showcase combines work not just from Northern Ireland, but also from young people across the United Kingdom carried out as part of Coronation Generation. Images produced by young people in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be on display, giving audiences the opportunity to see how participants approached the challenge in a range of different ways.

The showcase runs from 4th August 2023.

'The Coronation Generation creative brief is one that we wanted to share across the United Kingdom - offering students the chance to exercise their creativity in response to briefs on community, diversity, sustainability and youth.

Over three weeks Belfast Exposed arranged and hosted workshops for 50 students from all parts of the community. The photographs and works are inspired by the Cyanotypes, one of the oldest photographic printing processes in the history of photography. The distinctive feature of the print is its shade of cyan blue, which results from its exposure to ultraviolet light.

The young people themselves have been an inspiration. I am blown away by the graft, passion and commitment of Belfast Exposed who are genuinely opening their doors and helping young people see their futures and their community from different lenses'.

Heather MacRae, Chief Executive of the Ideas Foundation