Nomads - Invisible Neighbours Exhibition

Over the next few weeks St Helen's town centre will be hosting a public art exhibition entitled Nomads. It will consist of a series of ten portraits of homeless people painted by Simon Yorke which will be housed throughout the town centre stretching as far as Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Simon, who studied art at the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London, said: “The pieces started life in London when I met homeless people begging outside of Tate Modern. Portraits are usually of people who are loved and revered, but what’s interesting is that the people in these portraits don’t have anyone to love them, they’re ignored by society. I painted the eyes first because people often look away from homeless people, they don’t want to make eye contact with them. I’m hoping these portraits will help change that, that people will make eye contact. I approached each of the people and asked if I could photograph them. I never saw any of them again and they have never seen the finished portrait, but that fits in with the exhibition, because they are transient.”

The portraits have so far been displayed in London, Paris and Liverpool.

Nomads will be launched on Sunday 24th January 2016, which is Homeless Sunday, and will last for 3 weeks. The paintings will be on display in venues throughout St Helens including:

Holy Cross Church, Corporation Street, WA10 1EF;

St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square, WA10 1HP;

St Helens Central Library, Victoria Square, WA10 1DY;

St Helens Parish Church, Church Square, WA10 1AF;

St Helens College, Water Street, WA10 1PP;

St Mary’s Market, St Mary’s Arcade, WA10 1AR;

The World of Glass, Chalon Way East, WA10 1BX and

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral from Wednesday 20 – Wednesday 27 January and then touring schools throughout St Helens.