The Fourth Wall debuts a new body of work by artists George Gibson and Grace Collins that focuses on breaking the fourth wall — a cinematic and theatrical device where actors address the audience directly, often by looking straight into the camera. Via elements of printmaking, sculpture and self publishing, the duo ask: can this sense of connection be recreated in a gallery setting? (Well, here you are, so that’s a start.)
Drawing inspiration from HOME’s history and film programme, ‘behind-the-scenes’ magic of DVD extras and the kind of obsessive internet deep-dives that film fans know all too well, the work is an ongoing conversation of world-building and fandom — one that includes artists, cultural workers, gallery visitors, film fans (and, most importantly, you). Visit the exhibition, to see your reflection in mirrored artworks, and take away manifestos and memorabilia, and interrogate how we could move beyond the boundaries of this gallery space.
The Fourth Wall has been developed through research and consultation with HOME Staff, the HOME Young Film collective, HOME audiences and continues to develop now, here, with you, in the thoughts that come from reading this exhibition text. How is the fourth wall of a gallery broken? Does this space even have four walls?
Image credit: George Gibson and Grace Collins, The Fourth Wall, 2024
Exhibition Info
About the Artists
George Gibson and Grace Collins are ongoing collaborators, with a shared interest in fandom, conspiracy, fictioning and audience participation. Since meeting during School of the Damned (2020) they have created artworks for Castlefield Gallery, Art in Libraries St Helens, Liverpool Independents Biennial and Corridor8.
Grace Collins (they/them) is an artist and artworker, based in St Helens. They create art with other people, support artist-led activity, ask lots of questions and listen to people’s answers. With a bit of luck, this means creating spaces for justice and expanding our idea of what the world is allowed to look like.
George Gibson (she/they) is an artist interested in archiving niche fanaticism; obsessed with obsessions. Usually working within the medium of book arts, George’s previous publications have explored cryptozoology, queer retellings of Godzilla, the brief history of ‘Goblin Mode’, and the psychological impact of the hit 00s science fiction drama LOST.
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