The Weight of Words: Sculpture and Poetry Collide at Henry Moore Institute

The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds presents 'The Weight of Words,' an exhibition exploring the intersection of sculpture and poetry through works by an international and intergenerational group of artists. Curated by Dr Clare O'Dowd and Nick Thurston, the show features over 15 artists including Glenn Ligon, Doris Salcedo, Tim Etchells, and Joo Yeon Park. A newly commissioned poem by Anthony (Vahni) Capildeo, designed with illustrator Molly Fairhurst, adorns the institute's black granite façade. The exhibition includes new works by Etchells and Park, and runs alongside a public programme of online events, poetry readings, and film screenings in partnership with Leeds International Film Festival. The project builds on a 2021 research season and aims to expand understanding of how poetry and sculpture transform one another, highlighting Leeds as a growing cultural hub with the planned British Library cultural centre and National Poetry Centre.