Jarvis Cocker, the musician, and his wife, creative consultant Kim Sion, are set to curate a new exhibition at the Hepworth Wakefield, scheduled to open in May 2027. Titled the Hodge Podge, the exhibition will feature a personal selection of works that challenge conventional notions of art.
Exhibition Details
The Hepworth Wakefield announced that the show will encourage "unlikely conversations and interesting encounters" among artists such as Jeremy Deller, Peter Doig, Barbara Hepworth, Klara Kristalova, Emma Kunz, Mark Leckey, and Agnes Pelton. It will also include works by unknown outsider and visionary artists who have never been exhibited in UK public museums.
Cocker explained to the Guardian: "We've chosen works that have stuck with us over the years. We're trying to encourage people to realise that they have creativity within them." The museum noted that the exhibition reflects the couple's interest in alternative means of expression, class, and how communities come together outside religious or elite settings.
Creative Expression in Tough Times
Cocker emphasised the importance of creative expression, especially during difficult periods. "When times are tough and the outside world seems to be becoming a not very nice place, people often have to look within for something sustaining," he said. "Because they're not going to get the help from the inhospitable outside world, it's important to realise that you are capable of doing things. You don't have to be a consumer all the time. It's important to be a creator as well. That's what makes humans different from other animals—we're able to look at the world and create things based on our experiences of it."
He added: "There's no other alternative being espoused except capitalism. And capitalism is all about consuming things and buying things. That's how you prove your worth as a citizen. But we weren't born as capitalists, we were born as creative creatures. We're trying to take people back to the Garden of Eden, basically."
Exploring Diverse Themes
The exhibition will delve into alternative spiritualities, psychedelia, fandom, dreams, poetry, and music. A key feature will be an immersive Dreamachine, a flickering light device co-invented by Brion Gysin and Ian Sommerville in 1959. Designed to be viewed with closed eyes, it induces vivid visual patterns and altered states of consciousness. Cocker noted, "Everybody sees different things. Gysin was apparently in the back of a car driving down an avenue with trees, and the sun shining through the trees made this kind of flickering effect and sent him into a funny state."
The Hodge Podge Manifesto
In the Hodge Podge Manifesto, the couple explains that the phrase originated in the 15th century from the Middle English-French term hochepot, meaning a stew made of many ingredients. They write: "The Hodge Podge begins with a nest. Bower birds build nests and then decorate them with objects they find in the surrounding area. There is no practical reason why they do this. They are the only creature in the entire animal kingdom that decorates its abode just for fun. Except for humans."
Sion reflected on their collaboration: "When we met 18 years ago, our first conversation was about living in the moment and being true to yourself. It's such a big part of us. So it's wonderful to be able to express that." She expressed hope that many children and young people would visit, recalling her own childhood experiences with contemporary art.
Artistic Director's View
Laura Smith, artistic director of the Hepworth Wakefield, said: "Jarvis Cocker has a long-held interest in art, attending St Martin's College of Art and Design in the early 1990s, and as a Yorkshireman, felt like the ideal person to work with to consider a fresh way of thinking about and experiencing art. The art that he and Kim have gathered together in the Hodge Podge will encourage the feelings of joy, marvel, and curiosity that great works of art can inspire and offer our audiences an expanded idea of creativity and community."
