BEN ADAMSON: TOIL & BEAUTY

Artists

Ben Adamson

ARTIST BEN ADAMSON PRESENTS

TOIL AND BEAUTY

An Ambitious Solo Show Exploring Heritage, Labour, and Masculinity

Supported by The Koppel Project

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 The Koppel Project and presented in the ANNEX, 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, found 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 and traces of movement, evoking his own father’s work as a choreographer and lecturer.

Three distinct lighting environments recreate the atmospheres of a forge, bakery, and dance studio, while a percussive soundscape - created from recordings of these workplaces - unites their experiences. Through these multisensory elements, the installation draws connections between physical labour, craft, creativity, and performance across generations.

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.’

On Thursday 23rd April at 6pm, 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.

Notes to Editors
For more information or press requests please contact phoebeheins33@gmail.com

Open: 23rd April - 1st May 2026, 12pm-5pm (exclu. Mon & Thurs)

PV - Thursday, 23rd April 6pm-9pm

About Ben Adamson
Ben Adamson is a multimedia and sound artist specialising in multisensory installations that explore the intersections of performance, installation, and soundscape design. His work encourages audience participation, transforming viewers into active performers and listeners. He seeks to provoke and challenge perception, finding beauty in contrasting and harsh sounds to invite reflection on space, objects, and thematic concerns.

Provocation remains central to his work, with a sustained intention to pose questions to the listener. Another strand of his practice explores the intersection of playfulness and communication, probing the boundaries between performance, interaction, and listening within installation contexts. More recently, he has expanded the sculptural dimension of his practice, alongside developing co-creative processes through community workshops and drop-in sessions.

Artists whose practices resonate strongly with his own include Bill Fontana, Leonardo Drew, and Mike Nelson. From their work - whether scale, style, or impact - he has drawn significant inspiration in pushing the boundaries of installation and combining multiple sensory experiences to create powerful audience encounters.

More information available HERE.

About Phoebe Heins
Phoebe Heins has helped Ben produce Toil Beauty - Ben’s debut solo show in the UK. Working with a range of international arts agencies, supporting clients across the cultural sector - from national pavilions at the Venice Biennale to institutions such as The Photographers’ Gallery and MUBI, Phoebe has proudly supported Ben’s show - a dear and valued friend she met during their Liberal Arts studies at the University of Leeds.

In her spare time, Phoebe leads Lugus Ceramics, a community ceramics initiative in her hometown of Luton that aims to bring the therapeutic benefits of clay to those who need it most, partnering with organisations including Mind and Women’s Aid. Her greatest passion is fostering connections across creative communities and telling meaningful stories that reach new audiences.