‘Soft Structures’ at MIMA is an exhibition reflecting on the invisible threads and undocumented connections that underpin creative lives and communities.

In 2021, MIMA and the Women Artists of the North East Library invited artist Fiona Larkin to respond to the events and circumstances behind the artwork and archives held in the Middlesbrough Collection and in the Women Artists of the North East Library. Larkin’s resulting installation, videos and paintings employ empathy and intuition to reflect on the paintings of Ethel Guymer, an important member of the Cleveland Sketching Club. Ian Giles, meanwhile – through new audio, installation and drawings – has drawn together LGBTQ+ individuals who have influenced the buildings, industries and communities of Middlesbrough. Through collaboration and speculative storytelling, Giles unveils the hidden histories and untold stories intertwined with the town’s cultural and industrial past.

Middlesbrough Collection: Soft Structures, until 31 March, MIMA, Middlesbrough, mima.art