Date: Saturday 25 November 2023 – Saturday 24 February 2024
Free Entry
Monday – Saturday. 10am – 4pm.
Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays.
Plan your visit here.
Cut, fold, glue.
Paper artist Suhail Shaikh transforms the simple sheet of paper into multidimensional artworks. His work reflects the ideas, thoughts and reactions that arise from his perception of the evolving world around him.
Explore the figurative and the abstract in this unique exhibition and step into a space where the artist allows his dreams to become reality as he ‘papers his wishes’.
The Many
Central to Suhail’s exhibition is a paper sculpture of the central section of a Lancaster Bomber. The work has been painstakingly put together to tell the story of WW2’s Bomber Command and to remember those that gave themselves for our freedom. We want to stop the memory of them from fading. The sculpture is covered in copies of ephemera, donated by veterans, their families and those who wished to assist in the acknowledgement of the sacrifice of so many. The documents help to tell this story in the words and pictures of those who were there.
55,573 young men died flying with Bomber Command during World War Two; that’s more than those who serve in the entire Royal Air Force today. They came to serve from all over the world, not just from Great Britain but also Canada, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in total over 62 Nations – the majority of them still in their late teens. Bomber Command suffered the highest losses of any unit during WWII but have struggled for recognition.
Every member of Bomber Command aircrew was a volunteer. They were tasked with flying 30 missions, but the survival rate was usually 3 weeks. The average age at the time of death was 23.
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- Paper My Wishes, The Many, Suhail Shaikh, The Atkinson 2023
Events
Wednesday 7 February 2024, 7:00 pm
A Tale Of Two Lancs: A Talk by Mike Chatterton
The Atkinson – Museum & Galleries
Free for members / £5 for public. Pay in cash on the door.
Friday 16 February 2024, 1:00 pm
Paper My Wishes: A Talk by Artist, Suhail Shaikh
The Atkinson – Studio
Free, drop in event. Donations welcome.
Friday 16 February 2024, 7:00 pm
Film: Attack on Sorpe Dam
The Atkinson – Studio
£10. Plus booking fee £1 per ticket online/phone.
Saturday 17 February 2024, 11:00 am
Paper My Wishes: A Talk by Artist, Suhail Shaikh
The Atkinson – Studio
Free, drop in event. Donations welcome.
Wednesday 21 February 2024, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Crochet Poppies Workshop
The Atkinson – Art Box
Free, drop in event. Donations welcome.
Wednesday 3 April 2024, 7:00 pm
‘Saving Amy’ A talk by Eric Watkiss
The Atkinson Galleries
Free for members / £5 for public. Pay in cash on the door.
News
18.01.24 – The Atkinson – Step inside our paper Lancaster Bomber
21.12.2023 – Southport Visiter – Remembering our forgotten heroes of WW2
10.12.2023 – Stand up for Southport – The Many exhibition in Southport pays tribute to remarkable courage of RAF aircrew in World War Two
29.11.2023 – The Atkinson – Suhail Shaikh: Paper My Wishes – Exhibition Launch – Photos
16.11.23 – The Atkinson – The Many: Your Stories
15.11.23 – The Atkinson – Remembrance Poppies: A Craft Workshop at The Atkinson – Photos
06.11.2023 – Q Local – Remembrance Poppies Craft Workshop at The Atkinson
02.11.23 – Southport Visiter – Invitation to veterans and families to help shape exhibition
28.10.2023 – The Atkinson – We Need You: Ephemera Call Out
16.10.23 – The Atkinson – Coming Soon – Suhail Shaikh: Paper My Wishes – Photos
Step inside the Lancaster Bomber
Once you have pressed the ‘play’ button, click on the grey circles on the floor to ‘walk around’ the Lancaster Bomber. We recommend viewing full screen.
If you have enjoyed this virtual exhibition, please donate.
