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From our earliest encounter with picture books through to sophisticated political cartoons we have all learned to interpret hidden meanings in images. Throughout history artists have used, Allegory, as a tool to convey hidden layers of meaning, which are often moral or political. 

A significant message of this exhibition is that of displacement and human struggle. These artists speak of journeys and tangled webs of history and despair, but also hope. The artworks are hugely emotive and focus on the issues created by war, famine and economic distress that are currently absorbing our attention as thinking feeling human beings.   

Many of these works are personal. The unresolved issue of the Windrush Generation is a continuing issue for Charmaine Watkiss. Beth Carter’s sculpture, "I don’t know how far or how deep" touches on the displacement of homelessness. Debbie Lee’s triptych is a response to Goya’s violent and dark etchings, which have often defied interpretation. Seyed Edalatpour’s starting point is Gericault’s deeply disturbing painting, "The Raft of Medusa" savagely critiquing the political fallout from the terrible events following a tragic shipwreck. Karl Singporewala connects the magical tale of Narnia to his own children using Tower Bridge in London as his entry point. Ian Middleton’s "Mayfly" poignantly suggests the brevity of life. 

Artists have always commented on current affairs and political events and their interpretations allow them and their viewers to digest them and search for answers. Confronting our demons makes them less frightening and allows us to move forward with hope for the future.