Hundreds of cardboard boxes have landed in Preston - all in the name of art. Comprising 700 boxes, State of Print installation is currently touring the country and is constantly evolving as artists from each city it visits contribute to it.

During the Preston show, 10 print-making artists from UCLan have printed their own designs onto individual boxes that are set out in the exhibition space to represent a new ‘state’.

Funded under GB18 Culture Ireland with a special focus on Irish artistic activity in Britain, the idea behind it is to provide a backdrop, or stage, for more artists to add their thought. A new way to see the doctor

The intention is to promote discussion between visitors and when members of the public visit the exhibition, they are invited to become members of the new ‘state’ to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

Noelle Noonan is one of the print-making artists behind the project. She said: “The state is growing all the time as we invite new artists to contribute to it. Print has always had political roots, with posters and newspapers acting as vehicles to share messages well before the internet. We want visitors to get amongst the boxes in the exhibition and really think about what society means to them.”

Fellow organiser Catherine Hehir added: “The exhibition is also a celebration of all forms of print making from some very talented artists so it’s a very visual experience.”

State of Print will be at UCLan until the 13 December in the Harrington and Greenbank Social Space on campus and is free to attend. It’s already been to Aberdeen, Dundee and Norwich and plans are in place to take it to Europe and Australia.

Read more at: https://www.lep.co.uk/news/education/boxes-create-new-state-for-discussion-1-9475999