PROJECT: YOUNG CURATORS ILLUSTRATED MAP
CLIENT: YOUNG CURATORS/ASPEX PORTSMOUTH

The Young Curators are a group of Portsmouth based 16–18 year olds, who met weekly at Aspex gallery for 5 months (Oct 2021 - March 2022) to learn more about creative careers, take part in artist-led workshops, and co-commission artwork as a collective.

The project was supported by Arts Council England, and has provided opportunities for the young people to gain knowledge about working in the cultural sector, as well as practical experience of self-organising and project management.

OBJECTIVE

The focus of the Young Curators project was to create a Living Manifesto, culminating in an exhibition to visually represent this and share the group’s work around values and visions for the future.

As one of the final pieces, they co-commissioned me with Aspex Portsmouth, to create an illustrated map which pulled together their ideas relating to mapping and geography as a means of generating connection. I was asked to combine the young people’s ideas (supplied to me as a mix of diagrams, doodles and words) into a map based art piece, which would link together some of their favourite spots in Portsmouth and places of meaning/importance for them as individuals. The map I created is inspired by the work they produced with lead artist on the project, Flora Duley. It has been printed as an A4 map, which visitors to the exhibition can take away with them and use to explore Portsmouth from the perspective of the Young Curators.

They briefed me to create something ‘loud and colourful’ with a sense of ‘looking at the world through the lens of not only yourself, but the difference in experience that each person carries’. And also to include the words from their Manifesto.

Pictured - a selection of close-ups on the map features, with each location holding an emotional significance for a member of the group and the various points joined up to create a collective journey.

Slightly unusual for a map project, but there wasn’t necessarily an emphasis on geographical accuracy here, with the concept being more about emotional connections. In reality though, when creating the map, I have positioned the locations pretty much correctly (if you’re doing something, you may as well do it right, hey?), and the areas are roughly in the right place, just without defined borders.

PROCESS

For context, and an insight into why the map I created looks like this, I thought it would be interesting to share some of the reference material I was supplied with - this includes some of the young people’s own sketches and doodles and the process they went through in mapping/labelling their journey of thoughts and key places.

I wasn’t given any real explanation of the supplied images, just a list of places to include, along with the words from their Manifesto which could be featured in any order. Everything was left open to my interpretation. I can honestly say that this free-form approach meant I had a lot of fun in pulling this map together, and nice to go ALL OUT COLOUR!!!

WORK IN PROGRESS

Pictured below is an initial image I showed the group, for approval before completing the final artwork. It basically includes a worked up version of the map/proposed layout, with sketches in place for the various illustrative elements.

Time was relatively tight on this project, and when that’s the case I often think it’s worthwhile just to create the base version of a map straightaway (bearing in mind things can still be tweaked) rather than spending time sketching it, only to re-draw it properly later…

( ‘All Boobs R Amazing” I took this as a reference for a local naturist beach, and so positioned them accordingly - it’s not just a gratuitous opportunity for slightly rude drawings!)

THE YOUNG CURATORS ‘LIVING MANIFESTO’

• The sea of music and self expression is open to all because not everyone is the same, but we are all equal.
• Care and treat the members of the collective as we would ourselves.
• Welcome in love. We are humans. We make mistakes.
• We are philosophers of the youth.
• Imprint our contribution to and from our city.
• Listening to our younger selves and following the voice in unison. 

The Young Curators, Living Manifesto exhibition is open March 22 - May 15, 2022 at Aspex, Portsmouth. See here for more details.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

“ T H A N K Y O U : ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Young People have been valued and heard and you have expressed our meetings and ideas perfectly.

Thank you for also adding your name and credit. I think it empowers young people (especially aspiring young artist/makers) to see that artists are also valued, visible and making decisions.

Your turnaround and communication has been amazing.”

- Flora Duley, Lead Artist, Young Curators at Aspex Portsmouth

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