This is a FOREST
About the event
What does the earth ask of us?
Experience a series of artworks in this multi-media exhibition at a pop-up space at Moda, New York Square.
Working in a range of artforms from sculpture, film, ceramics and installation, interactive arts studio Invisible Flock are collaborating with with Anushka Athique, Vandria Borari, Nwando Ebizie, Outi Pieski, Jenni Laiti and a fallen Beech tree, 00744 - Fagus Sylvatica to explore ownership of earth, soil, air and water.
Featuring work from artists based in West Yorkshire, the UK, the Arctic Circle and the Brazilian Amazon, this work tells the story of an attempt to reclaim a part of the city as a forest, alongside global stories of how land and identity are deeply connected.
A film unpicks a conversation around the barriers to ecological progress in Leeds, while ancient Amazonian seeds representing botanical remains found during archaeological excavations in the Borari Alter do Chão territory reveal the relationships of local indigenous populations and the forest ecosystem. Past, present and future narratives are interwoven in a complex, layered conversation about land and value. We ask who are the ones deciding what value based systems are used when deciding the fate of the ecosystems surrounding us and how can we open up a conversation on consent processes around future ecologies.
Find out more about This is a FOREST.
Free
Wed - Sun
10am - 5pm
(closed Mon and Tue)
One of the artworks contains strobe, flashing lights and low frequency sounds. This is in an enclosed environment so visitors who do not wish to experience this work can choose to avoid it.
This is a FOREST: Audio Description
Listen to the story of This is a FOREST in these five short episodes.
Location
Plan your visit
Leeds City Bus and National Express coach stations is 0.4 km away from this venue.
Check the First Bus Leeds journey planner to find your best bus route.
The John Lewis Car Park at Victoria Gate is 0.4 km away from this venue.
Additional car parking is available nearby: NCP The Markets Car Park and Templar Street & Edward Street Car Park.
Leeds City Station is approximately 1.2 km from the venue.
For more information check National Rail Enquiries.
Accessibility & Advisories
Please note that this is a takeover of an indoor venue still in the process of being built. We recommend bringing a coat if the weather is cold as there will not be heating inside the gallery.
Accessible parking bays for Blue Badge holders are available to the west side of Moda New York Square on a first come, first served basis. Entrance from A64 via Mabgate.
Sat nav address: Moda, New York Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7BT.
An audio description of the exhibition, to include audio versions of interpretation text and descriptions of artworks will be available from Fri 13 Oct.
There are no toilets available on site. The nearest toilets are in Leeds Playhouse and visitors are welcome to use these facilities. Leeds Playhouse has lift access to all floors, 8 accessible toilets and a changing places toilet.
We strongly advise checking Leeds Playhouse opening hours ahead of your visit if you require use of their toilet facilities.
The This is a FOREST visual story has been created by our friends at Touretteshero.
The exhibition space is accessible. There is existing ramped access up from street level next to Leeds Playhouse. This is a fairly long route but with lots of large rest areas.
Credits
Co-produced by LEEDS 2023 and Invisible Flock. Made possible with National Lottery Heritage Fund. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Supported by Embassy of Brazil in London and Instituto Guimarães Rosa - IGR.
Exhibition venue kindly provided by Moda Living, In Kind Supporter of LEEDS 2023.
Special thanks to:
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, United Bank of Carbon, Hyde Park Source, Lazy Man Coffee, University of Leeds, Whipple Museum of the History of Science, University of Cambridge, Forest Plans, Leeds Coppice Workers Cooperative, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (UFOPA), Lab Verde, Flávia Santana, Uthai Forest, Alexis Percival, Open Space Society, White Rose Forest, Amanda Crossfield, LS14 Trust, East Street Arts, Leeds City College, Neil Pentelow, Paul Chatterton, Peninah Murage, Luke Bennett.
Advisory Group: Matt Taylor, Forest and Land; Pete Tatham, Hyde Park Source; Katie Field, Professor of Plant-Soil Processes, University of Sheffield; Roel Brienen, Professor in Forest Ecology and Global Change at Leeds University and Anushka Athique, Lecturer in Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at Greenwich University.
