YAK: Gen Z Dreaming is a previous exhibition. For information about current and upcoming exhibitions please visit Exhibitions.

What is the purpose and future of art? Who has the power to shape it? How might Firstsite evolve in the years to come? Ponder these questions through the eyes of the next generation.

Co-curated and developed between YAK, Firstsite’s Young Art Kommunity and Firstsite Programme staff members, ‘Gen Z Dreaming’ showcases original artworks created by YAK members and in collaboration with local artists Clare Iles and Joe Boyd, offering a unique response to our Lunar Lullabies exhibition and a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving relationship between art, technology and culture.

Investigate ideas important to the new generation, such as time and the significance of space in our lives, the experience of growing up in a digital world, and the power dynamics that shape our access to culture. Reflect on cultural nostalgia, and how these modern perspectives differ from those of past generations.

Discover drawings and sketches of Firstsite and surrounding areas, large-scale installations using repurposed packaging materials, originally designed to protect artworks in transit; video performances, and prints using everyday objects – these works address important issues like politics, housing, and eco-systems, echoing the collective anxieties and hopes for the future.

Among the exhibition highlights, is a large ‘network drawing scroll’ that comments on the impact of artificial intelligence and technology on art production and society. This work, along with other imaginative drawings and objects, envisions how galleries like Firstsite might look in the future.

Through a series of workshops, the young artists explored the foundational role of Firstsite itself – from its architectural design to the archaeological treasures uncovered on its grounds. With bold and colourful collages, they reimagined pieces from Firstsite’s Permanent Collection, including Eduardo Paolozzi’s BASH, pushing boundaries and challenging traditional roles in the art world.

Click to explore more of YAK’s previous shows in our exhibition archive

Joe Boyd

Joe Boyd is a mixed media artist based in England. By creating conceptual art projects that experiment with various mediums and subjects matters, Joe’s aim is to challenge the perception of what art can be. On display, discover his abstract digital images created using unconventional equipment and household objects.

Learn more about Joe Boyed here

Clare Iles