Shezad Dawood’s epic film series Leviathan comes to Bluecoat this summer as part of a season examining society and migration. Presented alongside paintings, resin sculpture, and woven textiles, Leviathan follows migratory patterns between Europe and Africa. The works combine marine biology, climate change, political systems and mental health to show how human activity and marine ecologies are intertwined.

The first four chapters of Leviathan premiered at Venice in conjunction with the 57th Art Bienniale. The work has developed, adapted and grown across exhibitions and screenings in Wales, Netherlands and Italy before reaching Bluecoat for a major exhibition charting Dawood’s ambitious project.

More about Shezad Dawood

Born in London, Dawood works across film, painting and sculpture to juxtapose discrete systems of language, image, site and context. His work often uses multiple narratives and involves collaborations with groups and individuals across different locations. Dawood’s work has been exhibited internationally, including the Rubin Museum of Art, New York, USA (2018); Palazzina Canonica and Fortuny Factory Venice, Italy (2017-18); the Si Shang Art Museum, Beijing (2017); Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2016); the Museum of Modern Art, New York (2015); Taipei Biennial, Taiwan (2014); Marrakech Biennial, Morocco (2014). Dawood is a Research Fellow in Experimental Media at the University of Westminster. He lives and works in London.