An Ambitious Solo Show Exploring Heritage, Labour, and Masculinity
Supported by The Koppel Project, London
Multimedia, sound artist Ben Adamson presents Toil and Beauty (2026), a large-scale, immersive installation exploring heritage, labour, and masculinity opening April 23 - until May 1. Supported by the Koppel Project and presented in the ANNEX gallery in Elephant & Castle, this ambitious solo exhibition marks a significant development in Adamson’s multidisciplinary practice.
The project interrogates how work and labour are shifting in the United Kingdom, particularly in the context of developments in AI, an unemployment crisis, and the continually evolving relationship between work and life. It examines how men experience purpose through work, and how labour, creativity, and masculinity intersect in contemporary society. Audiences are invited to reflect on what work means today, how it shapes identity, and the social implications of its absence with the unemployment crisis hitting an all time high.
Comprising small plaster sculptures, metal objects, and a bed of chalk, representing three generations of men in Adamson's family - the installation takes the form of an ocean wave. Metallic iron objects reference his great-grandfather who worked as a chainmaker, which then flow into plaster pastries and breads symbolising his grandfather who was a baker. These forms rest upon chalk - representing flour - which gradually thins into an area marked only by footprints, traces of movement, and sculptural references to his own father’s work as a choreographer and lecturer.
Three distinct lighting environments recreate the atmospheres of a forge, bakery, and dance studio. A percussion soundscape acts as an abstraction of the energy of their work environments and unites the various elements of the installation through Adamson’s own background as a percussionist, his original creative language. Through these multisensory elements, the installation draws connections between physical labour, craft, creativity, and performance across generations.
For the opening event, sight, sound, scent, touch and taste will be engaged with fresh bread broken by those in attendance, turning audiences into participants, fostering connection and fellowship.
The installation will be realised with professional guidance and presented through tours, talks, and a recorded artist Q&A, alongside full documentation. The support of The Koppel Project has been instrumental in enabling the scale, ambition, and public engagement of the work.
Through this immersive installation, Adamson seeks to provoke reflection on labour, heritage, and identity, creating a compelling multisensory experience that resonates with audiences.
In his words:
‘‘Toil and Beauty’ reflects my own personal investigation into the meaning of manhood and masculinity in a time of rising toxicity and division - deploying the lens of labour, work and craftsmanship to do so. As our landscape of work shifts and continues to change, this piece reflects my research into what labour and work has meant for men in my family over the last 100 years.
By combining my forebearers' worlds of making, I’m creating a visual timeline to investigate a lineage of men: their lives, their work and their creative practice. At a time where society lives in a perpetual state of consumption, I want people to ask themselves what labour means to them and what it means or meant to the people in their families. Ultimately, I want people to consider what work means, on a deeply familial level, and how socio-economic ruptures impact our identity, family, relationships and overall meaning in one’s life.’
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to The Koppel Project for the opportunity and support. To Phoebe Heins in her role as producer. To Lewis Dewar as co-composer and performer of the soundscape. To David Nicholas (Fosco, Hayes and Hadley) for all the print materials. To Oliver Nicholas, Sam Adamson and Benedict Mann with their installation assistance. Finally a massive thank you to my parents for their ongoing encouragement, support and kindness.
