Third Space by Northampton-born artists Sayed Hasan and Vivienne Rattray

The people that make up Northampton form the starting point for NN Contemporary Art's 2015 season presenting different ways to think about diaspora. The programme includes artists working with ideas of migration, home, exchange and the ultimate future diaspora of the human race. The programme features leading international and emerging artists working in all media from oil on canvas to site-specific installation.

Third Space begins the season with an exhibition by two Northampton-born artists working with family, culture and personal history.

Sayed Hasan's grandfather was born in Pakistan and grandmother in England. His multidisciplinary practice documents and responds to identity, from his experience as a British mixed-race male. He uses lens-based media, performance and material forms to present personal narratives.

Sayed's previous projects include My Grandad's Car, exhibited at Heathrow Terminal 5 in 2012. Sayed Hasan and Karl Ohiri each travelled thousands of miles to Pakistan and Nigeria, in an attempt to bring their grandfathers' cars to the UK. For Hasan this car is a memory of visits to see family in Pakistan as a child and has become a symbol for contemplating the complexity of belonging to multiple places and cultures.

For Third Space, Sayed is making a site-specific piece in NN's ground floor gallery. His work will focus on representing the space which forms as a result of culturally mixed world, how it connects with the past, but offers new possibilities.

Vivenne Rattray's parents were born in Jamaica and came to the UK in the 1950s, settling in the Midlands. Vivienne's work is influenced by her experience as a first generation African Caribbean from her family to be born in Britain.

Third Space presents Vivienne's monochrome oil paintings produced from photographs of her childhood and family in Jamaica, as well as personal collections of postcards representing her conflicting ideas of home.

Vivienne has adopted the Scottish surname given to her grandfather of Rattray for her artistic practice. Vivienne's works focus on the perception and visibility of culture, its public and private face, identity, belonging and gender roles.

Events accompanying Third Space include Crit Group, Write Club, CPD Workshops for artists and Film Night. Events are free however booking essential, tickets available from Eventbrite.

For more information about the project and NN visit: www.nncontemporaryart.org.

About the exhibition

Third Space:
Sayed Hasan, Vivienne Rattray

21 March–10 May 2015

NN Contemporary Art, 9 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP

Opening night: 20 March 2015, 6pm–8pm.

About the Artists:

Sayed Hasan (b.1979) graduated in MA Fine Art from Goldsmiths University in London in 2009. He currently lives and works in England. Sayed has exhibited in solo and group shows within the UK and internationally. www.sayedsattarhasan.com

Vivienne Rattray (b.1960) graduated in BA Fine Art Painting and Drawing at The University of Northampton in 2009. Vivienne lives and works in Northampton.

About NN Contemporary Art

NN is a contemporary art space in the centre of Northampton. We work with artists at all stages of their careers to present an international programme of contemporary art. NN's 2015 Diaspora season is programme of contemporary visual art exhibitions and multidisciplinary events in and around NN. For further information about the project and NN visit: www.nncontemporaryart.org

Opening times:
Wednesday–Saturday 11am–6pm
Sunday 2pm–5pm
Free admission

NN is supported by:
Arts Council England
Northampton Borough Council
Northampton County Council
University of Northampton