12 April – 27 April 2007, Holden Gallery, Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

Curated by Dinu Li

OREET ASHERY/ GUISEPPE DIBELLA/ MANDY LEE JANDRELL/ MARGARETA KERN

Make it a Better Place introduces the work of 4 UK artists, diverse not only in their background, but in their approaches and attitudes to their practice. Their individual projects are brought together to reflect on the concept of democracy, and how this thought provoking term is interpreted in today’s society.

Encompassing photography, video and installation, the selected artists offer a survey of compelling, challenging and sometimes controversial interpretations into the multi-faceted manifestations of democracy, its uses as a vehicle and the associated by-products attached to it.

From images of village communities in defiance to images of torture and humiliation, from young Bosnian girls in graduation dresses to the idyllic world of international themed parks, Make it a Better Place features artists pushing the boundaries of the photographic image. At the core, is the most fundamental of questions, is democracy always a good thing?

http://www.holdengallery.mmu.ac.uk/makeitabetterplace