BACKLIT presents The Last Horror Show. A celebration and exploration into the realm of horror through contemporary art and moving image.

This exhibition provokes a conversation between the production of horror films and the evocative power of visual art, creating an unsettling experience. Through exploring horror’s key elements—such as immersion, the unknown, special effects, and the emotional reactions they provoke—The Last Horror Show challenges us to reconsider our understanding of fear and its influence on our perception of reality. The title of the exhibition is inspired by the cult horror comedy The Last Horror Movie (1982), directed by David Winters and starring Joe Spinell and Caroline Munro. Special effects were led by exhibiting artist John Humphreys, and the film was assisted in production by Terry Hunt - co curator and Matthew Chesney’s late grandfather.

The gallery becomes a haunted space that lures visitors to revel in the atmosphere of works that simultaneously repel and enchant. Positioned at the intersection of film and art, the exhibition unearths themes of identity, mental health, humour, and otherness.

Artists: Jonathan Baldock, Gina Birch, Xin Chen, Matthew Chesney, Maya Deren, John Humphreys, Elizabeth Alice Keen, Nathaniel Mellors, Kim Thompson and Oliver Ventress.

Accompanying the exhibition is a Zine Library, curated by The Nottingham Horror Collective, which offers a DIY lens into the world of horror through their past and present editions.

Curated by Jazz Swali and Matthew Chesney

Thanks to: Arts Council England, Stephen Friedman Gallery, New American Cinema Group, Inc./The Film-Makers’ Cooperative, Matt’s Gallery, Chaos Magic, The Nottingham Horror Collective, and Lumina Collective.

Events

Exhibition Details

25 October 2024 - 08 December 2024
Open Thursday - Saturday, 12pm-5pm
Free entry, please consider making a donation
This exhibition is on the second floor
For additional access enquiries please contact [email protected]
BACKLIT, Alfred House, Ashley Street, Nottingham, NG3 1JG