Being Present is a group exhibition and event presenting work by artists from Bethlem Gallery, London and Primary, Nottingham.

During the Covid-19 pandemic and spanning various lockdowns exhibiting artists participated in Artist Meets, an artist-to-artist support programme which saw artists from Bethlem Gallery and Primary paired based on their shared interests or approaches to art production. The project provided an opportunity for artists navigating varying levels of isolation and living in different areas of the country to connect. The project grew as artist pairs continued to meet online, exchanging work by post, MS Teams and email, working together to navigate a practice of remote collaboration.  

Online group development sessions included a workshop around collaborative practice facilitated by Bethlem Gallery and a session with the Wellcome Collection, exploring how artists might practically and conceptually approach their own archives.  

Being Present reflects the necessary remote approach to this virtual exchange and will see the artists meet their pairs in-person for the first time to celebrate the artwork and partnerships that they have created together. The project will conclude with an exhibition at Bethlem Gallery and sharing day at Primary.  

The exhibition will show some of the work produced by the artist pairs over a 2-year period and will explore what it means to be present and the nature and practice of collaboration.

With artists:
Frank Abbott & Mr X
Michelle Baharier & Chris Lewis-Jones
Courtney & Roger Suckling
Fatma Durmush & Jo Wheeler