The Norman Rea Gallery is excited to announce the second exhibition of the 2024/25 programme: “For your Convenience”.

‘Convenience Culture’ is an often overlooked subsect of twenty-first-century consumerism. It is defined as a societal shift towards a convenient lifestyle, which prioritises a lack of personal exertion over the consequential impacts this choice will have. This manifests in every aspect of modern life, often by no fault of the consumers, impacting everything from the purchases we make, to the food we consume. Through this exhibition, we seek to question the motivation behind these choices, and raise questions about the impact that ‘Convenience Culture’ is having on the world around us.

Through the curation of the gallery space, “For your Convenience” aims to position the viewer in an ‘at home’ environment in an attempt to highlight the way that convivence culture has seeped into our spaces. We invite viewers to consider how this culture manifests in their own home, as well as their wider exploration of the world. By doing so we seek to remove the blame so often placed so readily on the everyday person. Instead looking to expose the way we are unknowingly made complicit in the perpetuation of this social shift.

Additionally, we aim to draw attention to both the widely acknowledged impacts of ‘Convenience Culture’, such as the current climate crisis, and those which are often overlooked due to their lack of visibility, such as the decline of traditional making techniques in favour of mass produced, new or convenient alternatives. By platforming traditional artisans, alongside the context that is fuelling their dwindling numbers, we hope to enable our visitors to reconsider the choices they make out of convenience.

The opening night for “For Your Convenience” will take place on Wednesday 27th November from 18:30 - 21:00.

In addition to the exhibition, we will run a rich programme of events and workshops, further drawing upon the themes raised within the artworks displayed. Stay tuned for further details.