Byland’s Super Saga, Jack Pell
Byland’s Super Saga was the first institutional solo show by Hull born artist Jack Pell. The exhibition drew upon the magic of everyday life across history, and was born out of Pell’s personal experience growing up in Hull as a working-class person and all the vibrant complexities that came with that.
Hull is often described as a city shaped by water. The artworks in Byland’s Super Saga took the regions waterways – the drains, the canals and the estuary – as metaphors to explore its key themes. It wove together the recognisable, everyday aspects of a city with that which is bizarre and magical.
The exhibition highlighted and examined the social history, folklore, industrial heritage and natural landscape of Hull and the East Riding in an imaginative way. It celebrated modern and unlikely aspects of popular culture such as fantasy and science-fiction, fairground art, car customisation, scarecrows and model building.
From reimagined replicas of some of Hull’s cast iron bridges including Wilmington and Sculcoates, to puppets named Wyke and Grim, who take on the characterised personas of Hull and Grimsby respectively, Byland’s Super Saga presented a creative interpretation of Hull unseen before.
Download the exhibition guide below (we also offer a dyslexia-friendly version):
Did you visit the exhibition? Let us know your thoughts by completing our short survey!
Related events
Thursday Lates: Simon-Mary Vincent
Thursday 13 June 2024
7-9pm
Humber Street Gallery
Pay what you can, booking required
In response to Byland’s Super Saga, Simon-Mary Vincent created a new piece of work, commissioned by Absolutely Cultured, performed at Humber Street Gallery.
Awarded the Innovation in Business “Most Innovative Piano Music Composer UK, 2023” and nominated for both Innovation & Excellence by Corporate Livewire in 2024 and a Paul Hamlyn Award for Artists in 2014, Simon-Mary Vincent is an Anglo-Hungarian performer and composer of acoustic and electronic music, who has been challenging the boundaries of genre and musical expression with a highly personal language since the early 1990’s.
“Visionary and expressive”, “rich and surprising”, “incredibly individual”, “masterful compositions”, “an immersive experience”, Simon-Mary’s music has attracted praise and radio play from critics as varied as Fran Wilson, Lauren Redhead, Ben Watson, Julian Cowley, Nick Luscombe, Robert Hugill, Robert D. Rusch, Massimo Ricci, Gilles Peterson and Mr. Scruff, and has been reviewed in publications including The Wire, International Piano, De:Bug, Knowledge Magazine, Straight No Chaser, Dragon Jazz, Avant Music News and Jazzwise.
Exhibition Tour
Thursday 27 June 2024
5:30-6pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, booking required
Would you like to learn more about our exhibitions? Get to know Humber Street Gallery with a guided exhibition tour.
Join us to hear more of the stories, ideas, and thoughts behind the work on display at our after-hours exhibition tours.
In Conversation: Jack Pell with Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard
Thursday 27 June 2024
7-9pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free and pay what you can, booking required
Rich and Lou Duffy Howard were joined in conversation with artist Jack Pell, as the trio explored their artistic and creative interest in waterways, estuaries and the sea.
Rich and Lou Duffy-Howard’s Open Bridges project made history in 2017 when all 13 of the bridges over the River Hull were raised, swung or closed simultaneously, as vessels mustered on the River Hull were met on the Humber by powerful 21st century tugs from SMS Towage and Svitzer.
This event also saw the world premiere of the acousmatic composition ‘Moments in Time’ by Hull based BAFTA award winning composer John Stead, which was played to a full house at the Stage@The Dock. Open Bridges was followed by A River Full of Stories, a book, series of films, website and exhibition capturing the stories and memories of many of the 2,000 visitors to the Open Bridges exhibition.
In November 2023, the next chapter of Open Bridges – What Makes The Humber? – explored the confluences and waterways which drain a fifth of England’s water into the North Sea and, most recently, their Goole by Barge exhibition of 60 photographs and three videos took place at Goole Museum and Gallery.
Past events
Exhibition Launch Party
Thursday 2 May 2024
6-9pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, no booking required
We celebrated the launch of Humber Street Gallery’s new exhibition, Byland’s Super Saga by Jack Pell.
Performing at the launch was musician Tom Kay. Tom has performed across the UK as a solo artist, session musician and as part of various bands. You may have recently come across Tom’s newest project Share the Wealth, Hull’s new improvised music night, which Tom is the curator and driving force behind. His other notable appearances include supporting Scott Matthews and Gill Landry (Old Crow Medicine Show), and playing a guitar solo on Channel 4’s ‘8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown’. He has also worked closely with Hull’s own ‘The Broken Orchestra’. Tom’s sound combines gentle singer songwriter sonic with beautifully crafted soundscapes.
Exhibition Tour
Thursday 9 May 2024
5:30-6pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, booking required
Would you like to learn more about our exhibitions? Get to know Humber Street Gallery with a guided exhibition tour.
Join us to hear more of the stories, ideas, and thoughts behind the work on display at our after-hours exhibition tours.
Byland’s Super Screen-printing Saga
Sunday 26 May 2024
11am-2pm
Humber Street Gallery
Free, no booking required
A drop-in screen-printing session held at Humber Street Gallery on 26 May 2024.
Local print maker Misc Print guided people through the process of pulling your own exclusive Byland’s Super Saga inspired print to take home and enjoy. The workshop was free, suitable for all ages with materials supplied.
Past events
Perches and Flyways, 2023. Creative Connections Artists, Juneau Projects and Jennifer Holtridge © Jules Lister
Perches and Flyways, Creative Connections Artists with Jennifer Holtridge and Juneau Projects
Our Strength is in Our Connection, Miranda Van Rossum and Hanna Lutkin
Winner Breaks First, Luke Beech. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery © Jules Lister
Winner Breaks First, Luke Beech
Installation view. Oliver Ressler, Climate Feedback Loops. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2022 © Jules Lister
Climate Feedback Loops, Oliver Ressler
© Floral & Lace
Luxury Christmas Wreath Making With Floral & Lace @ Humber Street Gallery
Installation view. Various Artists, HSG Open Call Q1 2021. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2021. © Jules Lister
HSG Open Call
Installation view, 2022. Harminder Judge, Ankles Absorbing Ash. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Ankles Absorbing Ash, Harminder Judge
Installation view. Kara Chin, Show Real. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2022 © Jules Lister
Show Real, Kara Chin
Installation View, 2021. Jasleen Kaur, Flesh 'n' Blood. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Flesh ‘n’ Blood, Jasleen Kaur
Installation view. HSG Open Call - Season Two. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2021. © Jules Lister
HSG Open Call - Season Two
Installation View, 2021. Leo Fitzmaurice, Enjoy Civic Life. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Enjoy Civic Life, Leo Fitzmaurice
Fruit Factory Network site visit to Bloc Projects, Sheffield © Absolutely Cultured
Life as a Creative
Installation View. Practice in Place. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2020. © Jules Lister
Practice In Place
HIPI Hang Out Forum, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured
Arts Council England under £15k Applications: Top Tips with Deb Ashby
Installation view, 2019. Ollie Dook, Proboscidea Rappings. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Proboscidea Rappings, Ollie Dook
Dance Exchange Programme, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured
Dance Exchange Hull
Hull Takeover: Previews © The Herd/The Roaring Girls/Just Club
Hull Takeover: Previews
Athena Papadopoulos, A Tittle-Tattle Tell-a-Tale-Heart, courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist 2019. © James Mulkeen
A Tittle-Tattle Tell-a-Tale Heart, Athena Papadopoulos
Installation view. Place To Place: Liverpool Biennial Touring Programme. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2019. © Rob Battersby
Place To Place: Liverpool Biennial Touring Programme
Jamie Reid XXXXX: Fifty Years of Subversion and The Spirit © James Mulkeen
Jamie Reid XXXXX: Fifty Years of Subversion and The Spirit
You and Me in HU3, Russell Boyce and George Norris. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery, 2024 © Jules Lister
You and Me in HU3, Russell Boyce and George Norris
BOOTLEG SHREG & FRIENDS, 2023. Bruce Asbestos © Jules Lister
BOOTLEG SHREG & FRIENDS, Bruce Asbestos
Baa's House, Hetain Patel. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery, 2023 © Jules Lister
Baa's House, Hetain Patel
Installation view. Lou Lou Sainsbury, Earth is a Deadname, 2022. Commissioned and produced by Gasworks. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. Photo: Jules Lister
Earth is a Deadname, Lou Lou Sainsbury
Nobody by Motionhouse. Image © Dan Tucker
Nobody: A Dance-Circus Adventure
Installation view, 2022. INTER_CHANGE Showcase. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
INTER_CHANGE Showcase
Installation view. Ashley Holmes, Trust Melody. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2022 © Jules Lister
Trust Melody, Ashley Holmes
Installation view, 2021. In Conversation as Collective Strategy. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
In Conversation as Collective Strategy
50 Queers for 50 Years Workshop © Chris Pepper
Creative Case for Diversity: An Introduction
Fruit Factory Network site visit to Bloc Projects, Sheffield © Absolutely Cultured
Introduction to Fundraising in the Arts
Installation View. HSG Open Call - Season One. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2021. © Jules Lister
HSG Open Call - Season One (2021)
Chatty Hull, 2019 © Absolutely Cultured
Making work with and for communities
Installation view, 2020. Jamie Crewe, Solidarity & Love. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister.
Jamie Crewe, Solidarity & Love
Model City, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran
Volunteer Community Support and Crisis Response
Installation view, 2020. Lucy Clout, ZZZ. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2020. © Jules Lister
Lucy Clout, ZZZ
Installation View, 2019. Aniara Omann, Equanipolis. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Equanipolis, Aniara Omann
Installation View. Mike S Redmond and Faye Coral Jones (MSR FCJ), Ecstatic Rituals.Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Ecstatic Rituals
IETM Hull © Tom Arran
Emerging Cultural Leaders Mobility Bursary 2019 - Information Event
PRS Foundation's New Music Biennial 2019, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran
PRS Foundation New Music Biennial 2019
Cut, Humber Street Gallery 2019. © James Mulkeen
Cut, Richard Houguez & Graham Jones
Candoco Dance Company © Hugo Glendinning
IETM Hull 2019 Plenary Meeting
Oh The Night! - imitating the dog. Urban Legends: Northern Lights, Absolutely Cultured © Tom Arran
Urban Legends: Northern Lights
Installation view. It Takes A Village. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2019. © James Mulkeen
It Takes a Village
Byland's Super Saga, 2024. Jack Pell © Jules Lister
Byland's Super Saga, Jack Pell
Diasporas Now UK Tour at Humber Street Gallery, 2024 © Abbie Jennings
Diasporas Now UK Tour
Pearson Primary Portraits, 2023 © Jules Lister
Pearson Primary Portraits, Class 5
Installation view. Bloomberg New Contemporaries. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists, 2022 © Jules Lister
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022
Kristin McGuire © Studio McGuire / Nikki Rummer © Camilla Greenwell
An evening of physical performance with Kristin McGuire and Nikki Rummer
© Middle Child
Out Loud Scratch Night with Middle Child and Silent Uproar
© Pheobe riley Law
High Street Soundwalk Artist Talk: Jez riley French
Installation view. In My Room, Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings. Courtesy of Focal Point Gallery and the artists, 2020 © Anna Lukala
In My Room, Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings
Installation View, 2021. Leo Fitzmaurice, Autosuggestions. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist. © Jules Lister
Autosuggestions, Leo Fitzmaurice
Gipsyville Christmas Tree, 2020 © Absolutely Cultured
Christmas Activities 2020
HIPI Hang Out Forum, Absolutely Cultured © Absolutely Cultured
1:1 Advice Surgeries with Arts Council England
50 Queers for 50 Years Workshop © Chris Pepper
Creative Micro-Commission Programme
Nnena Kalu, Wrapping. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Wrapping, Nnena Kalu
Frances Disley, The Cucumber Fell in the Sand. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
The Cucumber Fell In The Sand, Frances Disley
Installation View. Jade Montserrat, Instituting Care. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Jade Montserrat: Instituting Care
Ella Dorton, Journey to the Centre of the Couch (Couches & Other Good Ideas). Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artist, 2019. © Jules Lister
Journey To The Centre Of The Couch (Couches & Other Good Ideas), Ella Dorton
Man On The Moon Keisha Thompson. IETM Hull 2019 © Keisha Thompson
IETM Hull 2019 Artistic Programme
Installation view. Measures of Life, The Lumen Prize for Digital Art. Courtesy of Humber Street Gallery and the artists 2018. © Tom Arran
