An eco-arts exhibition exploring the delicate and ever-changing landscape of Yorkshire’s South Holderness coast has opened at the University of Hull.
Titled Living Coast: People, Land, and Sea in Yorkshire’s South Holderness, the exhibition is the culmination of a six-month research project documenting the shifting geography and human history of the region. The project draws attention to Spurn Point and its surrounding areas, emphasising the vulnerability of this unique coastal environment.
Using interviews with current and former residents from Easington, Kilnsea, and the former Spurn community, the project has inspired a diverse array of artistic interpretations. The exhibition includes poetry, performance, film, and sound, capturing the intertwined relationship between humans and nature along the coast. Collaborations with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Spurn Bird Observatory ensure that the rich wildlife of the nature reserve is central to the exhibition.
One of the project’s standout pieces is Between Two Tides, a movement and spoken word performance staged at low tide on Easington Beach. Performed by 18 students for local residents, the piece explores the tension between the human footprint and the forces of nature. A film of the performance is now featured as part of the exhibition.
Dr. Christian Billing, reader in drama and theatre practice at the University of Hull and project leader, said:
“Our work aims to highlight the dynamic fragility of the South Holderness landscape, creating arts-based pieces that urge us to see this terrain not as a static backdrop, but as a delicate, ever-evolving ecosystem.
“As artists and academics, we feel a responsibility to engage ethically with the complex history of human connections to this living space, recognising both the power of natural forces and the accelerating impact of human actions.”
The exhibition also includes a website featuring interviews, photographs, videos, music, and poetry to offer a rich multimedia experience. Long-time Kilnsea resident and author Jan Crowther, who contributed to the project, praised its depth and sensitivity, saying:
“The team’s heartfelt and meaningful engagement with the area has resulted in work that truly captures the unique essence of South Holderness. The performance on Easington Beach was a beautiful and emotional reflection of this special place.”
The Living Coast exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the interconnectedness of human life and nature, offering a poignant reminder of the fragility of this extraordinary coastal environment.
