Responding to the Rutherston Loan Scheme, I’ve been inspired by ‘Nomads Bou Silad’ Harry Steven’s. Looking to raise questions about how we connect intellectually and physically to art, my pieces are split between two spaces - one an interactive installation at Manchester College and this wall-based piece displayed here, at Manchester Art Gallery. In this dual-installation I draw inspiration from Stevens drawing - the fabric embodies a juxtaposition of strength and impermanence, qualities that reflect the namadic lifestyle of the Tuareg. Through the intricate Miura folds, I’ve crafted a visual impact and invokes a sense of continuous movement and adaptability. Betwixed looks to challenge perspectives both visually for the audience and also for myself as an artist, battling the fabrics natural form, to transform gallery spaces. I invite audiences to look at how traditional forms can be reinterpreted in modern contexts, connecting us through art and time, and all that is in-between.

Collaborating with Code events at Meraki, Liverpool, I showcased a unique installation featuring 3D scans of the historic Crystal Palace. The installation was audio-reactive and dynamically responded to the ambient music of live bands playing at the venue. Inspiration for the projections and imagery came from capturing areas of Crystal Palace that were in serious disrepair in contrast to the flourishing nature. Meraki is placed in a warehouse with bare bricks and exposed walls, providing an example of old buildings that have been given a new lease of life.

Exploring the convergence of digital artistry and historic narratives, my partnership with Manchester Art Gallery breathes new life into the Rutherston Loan Collection. Through dynamic digital storytelling, I aim to celebrate and reinterpret the enduring legacy of the collection for a contemporary audience.

3D scan and Render reconstruction of paintings

Impulse: A Showcase at Manchester College" delves into the narrative of migrants selling flowers in Turin, Italy. This project extends the thematic elements of the original 'Impetus' installation, using the symbolic representation of flowers to explore human migration. It isn't just a study of physical relocation but delves into the emotional odyssey accompanying such journeys. Mirroring the way flowers instinctively turn towards sunlight, this piece reflects our innate search for a better life, often driven by an idealized vision. This showcase at Manchester College is a continuation of exploring these profound human experiences through art.

I worked with Musician Joel Moffet to create a emotive soundtrack to reflect this theme.

Captivated by a UN study documenting surprising experiences of flower selling migrants in Turin, Italy, this installation uses flowers as a parallel to the movement of people. It is not just about the physical movement but the mental journey that humans experience; much like flowers bowing their heads towards the sun, everyone experiences some sort of journey in their life, perhaps with an idealised destination, as though they are stepping toward the light. Impetus uses a webcam and the program poseNet - a pre-trained body position detector created using machine learning. This opens up the possibility of collaborating with a live audience to create an interactive installation. It is through the physical and immersive space that the focus on the human condition can be fully discovered. The soundtrack of the piece is composed of audible memories from a Migrant whom Isaac worked closely with to capture his year-long journey to the UK from Kurdistan, age 13. This installation looks upon the forces that influence the movement of people and asks the audience to consider impetus; are they the mover or the moveable thing?

"Emerging visual artist, Isaac Grubb, also displayed his interactive digital art installation, ‘Impetus.’ Exploring the intricacies of the human experience, the installation uses flowers to mirror the movement of people and asks the viewer to consider both the physical and mental journeys of human beings. 'I would like people to come away from the installation with a sense of their own agency,' Isaac told us. 'And perhaps for them to consider the agency of other people and how that may differ from their own.' "

“My theme is memory, that winged host that soared about me…These memories, which are my life – for we possess nothing certainly except the past – were always with me.” Evelyn Waugh

This piece of installation art endeavours to help people reflect on their experience of memory through an audio-visual presentation. The host of images and sounds are projected through a network of yarn which represent the many complex connections memories have in our experience.

I responded to the exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery focusing on the seventy-year partition of India and Pakistan. My artistic interpretation was manifested through concrete sculptures with aged copper, representing the profound impact of this event on countless lives. This work was exhibited as part of the South Asia Design Exhibition and the Future Creatives program, symbolizing the deep scars and enduring effects of political upheaval. This participation marks a significant point in my artistic journey, reflecting on historical events through the lens of contemporary art.

In the wake of the Manchester terror attack, I embarked on a poignant art project titled 'Soap Figures' to reflect on the impact of terror worldwide. I carved soap sculptures, each symbolizing the innocence and purity of terror victims. The transient nature of soap, gradually shrinking over time, mirrors how the memory of such events fades in public consciousness. I created 23 figures, representing each victim of the Manchester attack, and grated soap into a Perspex box, signifying the daily toll of terrorism. The project also critiques how these tragedies are often co-opted into political narratives, turning them into 'soapboxes' for various agendas.

In response to the Manchester Art Gallery's exhibition on "Fashion & Freedom," I explored the pivotal role of women during World War I. My artwork, crafted from paper, transforms a seemingly fragile material into robust geometric shapes, symbolizing the shifting perceptions about women's roles in society. This piece reflects the exhibition's theme of how the war reshaped women's identities and contributions, presenting a unique interpretation of women's empowerment through my artistic lens. My work was showcased at an exclusive evening event at the gallery, reflecting my interpretation of the exhibition's theme.