Play of Light

Play of Light installation view. Entrance to Gallery 4 of the VG&M showing an introductory text panel and two nocturnal paintings.
Gallery 4 on the first floor of the Victoria Gallery & Museum (VG&M), where 'Play of Light: A display of darkness and illusion' is being exhibited.

Phil led a creative writing workshop inspired by ‘Play of Light – A display of darkness and illusion’ at the VG&M on Saturday 30 November 2024 (10:30am – 12:30pm). It was a free workshop delivered as part of University of Liverpool’s Continuing Education programme.

Workshop participants in the VG&M Learning Suite, Sat 30 Nov 2024.
Play of Light exhibition poster.
Play of Light exhibition poster at the VG&M.

The first part of the workshop took place in the gallery space and involved closely observing the nocturnal paintings on display, making notes. The second part of the workshop took place in the VG&M’s Learning Suite where participants were given various prompts and writing exercises. The group also studied the short story, ‘A Village After Dark’ by Kazuo Ishiguro (published in The New Yorker, 14/5/2001).

Artworks featured in Play of Light – A display of darkness and illusion:

Joseph Mallord William Turner – ‘The Eruption of the Soufriere Mountains in the Island of St Vincent, 30 April 1812’

David Roberts – ‘Interior of the Church of St Genevieve, Paris, 1826’

John Atkinson Grimshaw – ‘A View of Hampstead, London, 1882’

Elias Childe – ‘River Scene at Night, c. 1830’

Joseph Wright of Derby – ‘Snowdon by Moonlight, 1792’

Frederic Chopin – ‘Nocturnes, 1827 – 1846’

Ellen Clacy – ‘Woman by the Fireside, 1899’

John Cranch – ‘Cottage at Night, 1795’