In Therapy with North Sea, Solmaz Farhang
Let’s meet up with the North Sea; sit together, breathe together, and reflect on our relationship: the love and affection we share, the anger and frustrations we face.
In Therapy with North Sea at Humber Street Gallery invites the audience to an unconventional encounter with the North Sea and an exploration of our coexistence.
The North Sea is home to an incredible diversity of species and organisms, with its coasts sustaining countless human communities. The coastline is in constant flux, a shifting landscape that impacts our lives profoundly. Where the North Sea ends and the land begins is a question with no clear answer. It is a frontier and a crossroads, a service station for travelers and thoroughfare for expansion and migration. A sea with a fraught history of war, trade and industry which now finds itself subject to numerous environmental changes as a consequence of the global climate crisis; all whilst being an entity by which people have and do live out domestic lives.
How can we engage with such co-existing histories and realities in order to adapt and transform when our cherished memories and places are at risk? As the North Sea increasingly becomes a place for research, natural energy, and conversations around climate change, what do we truly mean by gaining resilience?
In Therapy with North Sea delves into these pressing questions through witty and participatory multimedia installations. It speculates on our future and seeks to prepare our collective imagination to dive forwards, and perhaps into, the North Sea.
Delivered in partnership with University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute. Find out more
Download the exhibition guide below (we also offer a dyslexia-friendly version):
Past related events
In Therapy with North Sea: Exhibition launch
Thursday 13 February 2025
6-9pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, no booking required
Be one of the first to discover In Therapy with North Sea by Solmaz Farhang at our launch! The evening will include music from Two Rivers (Lisa J Coates and Graziana Presicce).
Mezzo-soprano Lisa J Coates and pianist Graziana Presicce are multi-disciplinary artists who combine classical music in live performance with spoken word and visual art, as well as undertaking regular recital and outreach work. They champion the work of women composers, both historic and contemporary, and focus on making music accessible to all.
A key element of the duo’s work is using classical music as a social tool and using it to engage communities with topics such as climate change.
They are currently collaborating on From Noah to Now with the University of Hull, in a side-by-side project featuring school children from Hull and NE Lincolnshire, culminating in a performance of Britten’s opera Noye’s Fludde (March 2025).
Recent projects include a primary-school song-writing workshop funded by Hull Maritime, in collaboration with local composer Dawn Walters, and an artist commission in response to the theme of Hull and flooding, in a project called Risky Cities, by the University of Hull. As a duo, they have worked with organisations such as Mahogany Opera, dementia charity Lost Chord, Ferens Art Gallery, Sewerby Hall, Hull Minster, Howdenshire Music and Hornsea Music Society, and individually have performed internationally, recorded for labels such as Naxos and Delphian, and appeared live on radio and television. They are working towards their first release in 2025.
Online Artist Talk: Solmaz Farhang
Friday 4 April 2025
6-7:30pm
Online
Free, booking required
Solmaz Farhang is an artist and researcher based in London. She works at the intersection of art, design and technology, developing tools and methods for understanding socio-logical relationships (the relationships between humans and nature).
Solmaz works across multiple disciplines to create artwork, including photography, video and multimedia installations.
Discover more about Solmaz’s practice via this Online Artist Talk, and find out more about the ideas behind ‘In Therapy with North Sea’.
Thursday Late: Ben Adamson
Thursday 8 May 2025
7-9pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, booking required
Ben Adamson is a multimedia and sound artist specialising in multisensory installations that explore the intersections of performance, installation, and soundscape design. His work encourages audience participation, transforming them into active performers and listeners. Ben seeks to provoke and challenge perceptions, finding beauty in contrasting and harsh sounds to invite reflection on space, objects, and theme. Provocation is of the utmost importance throughout Ben’s work with the intention of asking questions to the listener. Another area of his practice focuses on the intersection of playfulness and communication and involves probing the boundaries between performance, interaction and listening within his installation work. More recently Ben’s practice has engaged with co-creative process and community engaged projects focusing on mental health in local communities.
Talking to the Tide
40 mins
Talking to the Tide is a participatory piece of performance art – a collaboration between audience and performer. The audience are invited to become active creators, writers and artists in this piece by making their mark on Ben’s skin. Anyone who wishes to share their sentiment or message with the audience may whisper it in Ben’s ear and he will share it with everyone else. Periodically, the ‘tide will go out’ and some of the marks and messages will be washed away.
Share as wholeheartedly as you will – secrets, thoughts, feelings, fears – in the knowledge that all is impermanent and will be washed away eventually…
Soundscape: 5 Minute loop of Drowning Music II
Following the performace, there will be a Q&A with Ben Adamson.
Panel Discussion
Thursday 24 April 2025
6:30-8:30pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, booking required
Bringing together a panel of artists and researchers this round table will explore creative responses to the climate crises, asking ‘What role can the artist play in addressing such challenges that play out simultaneously in global and hyper local contexts?’
Exhibition Tour
Wednesday 5 March & 30 April 2025
2-2:30pm
Past events

Humber Street Gallery and University of Hull Climate Public Response 2024/25

You and Me in HU3, Russell Boyce and George Norris. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery, 2024 © Jules Lister
You and Me in HU3, Russell Boyce and George Norris

BOOTLEG SHREG & FRIENDS, 2023. Bruce Asbestos © Jules Lister
BOOTLEG SHREG & FRIENDS, Bruce Asbestos

Baa's House, Hetain Patel. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery, 2023 © Jules Lister
Baa's House, Hetain Patel

Installation view. Lou Lou Sainsbury, Earth is a Deadname, 2022. Commissioned and produced by Gasworks. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. Photo: Jules Lister
Earth is a Deadname, Lou Lou Sainsbury

Nobody by Motionhouse. Image © Dan Tucker
Nobody: A Dance-Circus Adventure

Installation view, 2022. INTER_CHANGE Showcase. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
INTER_CHANGE Showcase

Installation view. Ashley Holmes, Trust Melody. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2022 © Jules Lister
Trust Melody, Ashley Holmes

Installation view, 2021. In Conversation as Collective Strategy. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
In Conversation as Collective Strategy

50 Queers for 50 Years Workshop © Chris Pepper
Creative Case for Diversity: An Introduction

Fruit Factory Network site visit to Bloc Projects, Sheffield © Absolutely Cultured
Introduction to Fundraising in the Arts

Installation View. HSG Open Call - Season One. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2021. © Jules Lister
HSG Open Call - Season One (2021)

Chatty Hull, 2019 © Absolutely Cultured
Making work with and for communities

Installation view, 2020. Jamie Crewe, Solidarity & Love. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister.
Jamie Crewe, Solidarity & Love

Model City, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran
Volunteer Community Support and Crisis Response

Installation view, 2020. Lucy Clout, ZZZ. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2020. © Jules Lister
Lucy Clout, ZZZ

Installation View, 2019. Aniara Omann, Equanipolis. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Equanipolis, Aniara Omann

Installation View. Mike S Redmond and Faye Coral Jones (MSR FCJ), Ecstatic Rituals.Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Ecstatic Rituals

IETM Hull © Tom Arran
Emerging Cultural Leaders Mobility Bursary 2019 - Information Event

PRS Foundation's New Music Biennial 2019, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran
PRS Foundation New Music Biennial 2019

Cut, Humber Street Gallery 2019. © James Mulkeen
Cut, Richard Houguez & Graham Jones

Candoco Dance Company © Hugo Glendinning
IETM Hull 2019 Plenary Meeting

Oh The Night! - imitating the dog. Urban Legends: Northern Lights, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran
Urban Legends: Northern Lights

Installation view. It Takes A Village. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2019. © James Mulkeen
It Takes a Village

Byland's Super Saga, 2024. Jack Pell © Jules Lister
Byland's Super Saga, Jack Pell

Diasporas Now UK Tour at Humber Street Gallery, 2024 © Abbie Jennings
Diasporas Now UK Tour
Pearson Primary Portraits, 2023 © Jules Lister
Pearson Primary Portraits, Class 5

Installation view. Bloomberg New Contemporaries. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2022 © Jules Lister
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022

Kristin McGuire © Studio McGuire / Nikki Rummer © Camilla Greenwell
An evening of physical performance with Kristin McGuire and Nikki Rummer

© Middle Child
Out Loud Scratch Night with Middle Child and Silent Uproar

© Pheobe riley Law
High Street Soundwalk Artist Talk: Jez riley French

Installation view. In My Room, Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings. Courtesy of Focal Point Gallery and the artists, 2020 © Anna Lukala
In My Room, Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings

Installation View, 2021. Leo Fitzmaurice, Autosuggestions. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Autosuggestions, Leo Fitzmaurice

Gipsyville Christmas Tree, 2020 © Absolutely Cultured
Christmas Activities 2020

HIPI Hang Out Forum, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured
1:1 Advice Surgeries with Arts Council England

50 Queers for 50 Years Workshop © Chris Pepper
Creative Micro-Commission Programme

Nnena Kalu, Wrapping. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Wrapping, Nnena Kalu

Frances Disley, The Cucumber Fell in the Sand. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
The Cucumber Fell In The Sand, Frances Disley

Installation View. Jade Montserrat, Instituting Care. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Jade Montserrat: Instituting Care

Ella Dorton, Journey to the Centre of the Couch (Couches & Other Good Ideas). Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Journey To The Centre Of The Couch (Couches & Other Good Ideas), Ella Dorton

Man On The Moon Keisha Thompson. IETM Hull 2019 © Keisha Thompson
IETM Hull 2019 Artistic Programme

Installation view. Measures of Life, The Lumen Prize for Digital Art. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2018. © Tom Arran
Measures of Life by The Lumen Prize for Digital Art

Though The Leaves Are Many... : INTER_CHANGE exhibition

Perches and Flyways, 2023. Creative Connections Artists, Juneau Projects and Jennifer Holtridge © Jules Lister
Perches and Flyways, Creative Connections Artists with Jennifer Holtridge and Juneau Projects

Our Strength is in Our Connection, Miranda Van Rossum and Hanna Lutkin

Winner Breaks First, Luke Beech. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery © Jules Lister
Winner Breaks First, Luke Beech

Installation view. Oliver Ressler, Climate Feedback Loops. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2022 © Jules Lister
Climate Feedback Loops, Oliver Ressler

© Floral & Lace
Luxury Christmas Wreath Making With Floral & Lace @ Humber Street Gallery

Installation view. Various Artists, HSG Open Call Q1 2021. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2021. © Jules Lister
HSG Open Call

Installation view, 2022. Harminder Judge, Ankles Absorbing Ash. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Ankles Absorbing Ash, Harminder Judge

Installation view. Kara Chin, Show Real. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2022 © Jules Lister
Show Real, Kara Chin

Installation View, 2021. Jasleen Kaur, Flesh 'n' Blood. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Flesh ‘n’ Blood, Jasleen Kaur

Installation view. HSG Open Call - Season Two. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2021. © Jules Lister
HSG Open Call - Season Two

Installation View, 2021. Leo Fitzmaurice, Enjoy Civic Life. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Enjoy Civic Life, Leo Fitzmaurice

Fruit Factory Network site visit to Bloc Projects, Sheffield © Absolutely Cultured
Life as a Creative

Installation View. Practice in Place. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2020. © Jules Lister
Practice In Place

HIPI Hang Out Forum, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured
Arts Council England under £15k Applications: Top Tips with Deb Ashby

Installation view, 2019. Ollie Dook, Proboscidea Rappings. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Proboscidea Rappings, Ollie Dook

Dance Exchange Programme, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured
Dance Exchange Hull

Hull Takeover: Previews © The Herd/The Roaring Girls/Just Club
Hull Takeover: Previews

Athena Papadopoulos, A Tittle-Tattle Tell-a-Tale-Heart, courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist 2019. © James Mulkeen
A Tittle-Tattle Tell-a-Tale Heart, Athena Papadopoulos
Installation view. Place To Place: Liverpool Biennial Touring Programme. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2019. © Rob Battersby
Place To Place: Liverpool Biennial Touring Programme

Jamie Reid XXXXX: Fifty Years of Subversion and The Spirit © James Mulkeen