RGU’s Look Again explores Aberdeen at Wonderland Festival

The project is co-curated by ‘Miasma’ - Abby Quick and Eryka Aniol, and features exciting new work by 14 visual artists and designers, working collectively as ‘Terra Incognita’ (as above, so below), many of whom are Gray’s graduates.

A statement from Miasma reads: “As we look forward to the wider programme within Wonderland, we are grateful for the opportunity to present works and activity in the public space this year—with generous support and mentorship from the Look Again team.”

Wonderland is a free multi-arts festival, led by Aberdeen Performing Arts, that includes art installations, dance shows, outdoor music performances and free workshops. These will take place on the street and at the Look Again Project Space, to celebrate culture and creativity across Aberdeen.

The project, ‘Terra Incognita’ (as above, so below), imagines curious, magical and uncanny aspects of the city and gives people the opportunity to explore hidden sides of Aberdeen. Exhibits will include a sacred wishing well, a greenhouse radio station, a swing that is also a knitting machine, a creature made of redundant satellite dishes and artworks created from mycelium fungus, among other things. A programme of interactive and participatory workshops for the public will take place in the run-up to and during the festival.

They add: “We are delighted to collaborate with Look Again on bringing together ‘Terra Incognita’ (as above, so below) as part of Wonderland festival. Having explored themes of weird ecology and technology, landscape, and power, of folk belief and deep time as a collective through Swamp Island—a self-funded pop-up exhibition held in the autumn of 2021—both contextual research and art objects have been transformed through the lens of civic space for ‘Terra Incognita’.

“Through the mythic, the eerie, and a gentle gust of night air, we migrate from the swamp to the city.”

Other artists involved are Ane Smith, Jack Murray Brown, Caitlin Dick, Jared Cameron, Phoebe McBride, Ray Downie, Maria Roman, Caitlyn Main, Saoirse Horne, Astrid Bjorklund, Emily Doherty, Samm Anga.

Look Again Co-Director, Hilary Nicoll said: “It is wonderful to be working with this talented group of artists and designers, supporting them to bring their uncanny take on the city to the public. We’re thrilled to be taking part in Wonderland and to be supporting arts, culture and importantly, creatives, from the region.

“Wonderland promise to ignite Aberdeen city centre, putting culture and creativity at its heart and bringing communities together again. I’d encourage everyone to come and enjoy the diverse and engaging projects that are on offer.”

Wonderland is led by Aberdeen Performing Arts on behalf of Culture Aberdeen and includes 12 new projects from a mixture of early career and established artists who live or have lived in the North East of Scotland.  

Find out more about the festival and LookAgain: