Penarth neighbours illustrator Chris Glynn and poet Luca Paci unpack their touring exhibition Self Help Show in The Turner House in Penarth from 9 February – 5 March 2023. This exhibition of texts and images, book hacks and music, explores creative collaboration, friendship, and the idea of self-help. The event centres around characters shipwrecked on the imaginary Self Help Island.

Self Help Show creates a safe conversational space to reflect on some of the challenges of the past three years, taking a sideways look at the pros and cons of self-help culture. This exhibition features a free programme of events exploring the themes of the show as well as guest appearances from local artists and writers including Ivor Davies, Menna Elfyn, Philip Gross, Mab Jones and David Sinden. 

Paci says: “We started from a need for conversation, which triggered a collaboration. The show offers a space to reflect on our attitudes towards self-help and unpack its premises. Often we look at these things in a naïve way, because we’re desperate. We need help and maybe we don’t have the strength or capacity to think critically. The show sets out to help people distinguish the wheat from the chaff. We found the conversation between illustration and writing helpful in terms of understanding who you are, what you do and what you want.”

Glynn reflects: “Discovering poetry and fictionalising your surroundings can add dimensions and perspective to mundane and difficult aspects of life amid wider crises and civic blight. Working with Luca I have learnt to develop my writing and drawing through collage and exchange, allowing for incidents and accidents. Most people have something to say about their search for help, and I look forward to creating further pieces in the gallery in conversation with visitors and keynotes. The show provides some of the questions, maybe a few answers, without prescribing escapism, floating or resorting to rules.”  

Exhibition 9 February – 5 March 2023, Thursday – Sunday 10am – 4.30pm

PEN Cymru Poetry Event with Menna Elfyn, Philip Gross, Lesley James, Mab Jones, Luca Paci and Susie Wild, Sunday 26 February 2023, 2-4pm

Find out more about the exhibition and events: https://turnerhouse.wales/selfhelp/

Find out more about Self Help Show at https://www.selfhelpisland.com