I’m Sorry, Annabel McCourt

What’s in an apology? When was the last time you said sorry… and meant it? What are you sorry, truly sorry about?

Inspired by the artist’s own deeply personal experience of loss, this exhibition is centred on the powerful, restorative and healing experience of saying “I’m Sorry”.

I’m Sorry is not about flippant apologies, taking the blame or over-apologising in fear of what others think. Instead, it’s about unburdening ourselves of guilt, reclaiming control and discovering self-esteem, without fear of conflict. It is a powerful tool for forgiveness and healing. It is introspection for the collective good to create a more compassionate world.

McCourt invites you to step inside the safe, contemplative space of I’m Sorry. Discover raw moments of private reflection, confessions without guilt, secret ceremonials of power and meditation. Take a pilgrimage into I’m Sorry and embark on a journey of personal transformation, free from judgement, before returning to daily life.

I’m Sorry by Annabel McCourt is a touring exhibition from Barnsley Civic.

Download the exhibition guide below (we also offer a dyslexia-friendly version):

About the Artist

Annabel McCourt was born in Grimsby in 1975. She is a diverse artist whose work ranges from lens-based gritty social-realism, through to installation art, moving image and architectural interventions inspired by fact, folklore & legend. For this project McCourt has gone back to her artistic roots in photography, meeting people and forming genuine connections.

“I feel vulnerable, paired-down and honest by exhibiting this work and I am profoundly grateful to every contributor for ‘speaking’ truth to power via my camera lens”

This project stems from McCourt’s experience of not being able to say goodbye to her father before he passed away. Holding a private ceremony to offer up an apology was a way for her move on and heal from this aspect of grief which is shared by many. McCourt recognised that creating this space for others might be a useful and profound tool.

Presented is a series of portraits in which the participants hold a bespoke neon ‘I’m Sorry’ written in the artist’s handwriting. Each person is captured offering their own private apology to the camera. For McCourt the glow of electrified neon gas reacts uniquely with each personality as they offer their “I’m Sorry”. The neon is an evocative metaphor for these authentic moments McCourt has captured; fragile, captivating and powerful.*

Visited the Exhibition? Let us know your thoughts by completing our short survey!

I’m Sorry exhibition survey

Upcoming related events

Sean Azzopardi: Return to Sender

Wednesday 30 October 2024, 5-7pm

Thursday 14 November 2024, 5-7pm

Thursday 21 November 2024, 5-7pm

Humber Street Gallery
Free, drop-in/booking available

Who do you owe an apology to? Does someone you know deserve your heartfelt sorries? Should they be apologising to you? Join artist Sean Azzopardi at Humber Street Gallery, write out your apology, thoughts or feelings – anonymously – on a card and post it. In return, take a sealed envelope with you. A small letterpress will be used to print out these texts. Anonymised words will feature on the walls of the gallery.

Sean Azzopardi is a Hull based artist who specialises in painting and graphic media. Inspired by cartoons and politics, Sean publishes comics as Phatcomics.

Book here

In Conversation: Annabel McCourt with Michelle Dee

Thursday 14 November 2024
7-9pm
Humber Street Gallery

Free, booking required

Michelle Dee is in conversation with I’m Sorry artist Annabel McCourt and premiering her new piece inspired by the exhibition – Who’s Sorry Now?

We live in times where the apology has become part of everyday speech, a casual throwaway line, ‘I’m sorry’ which falls from every one of us almost without thinking. On Nov 14th for Thursday Late we invite the writer/ performer Michelle Dee to interrogate ‘the apology’ in a dramatic spoken word performance where she will put the very idea of apologising on trial.

This new work part poetry, part essay, will shine a light on cultural and gender differences in the apology phenomena; investigate whether the British deserve the title as the most apologetic nation; and, with global headlines dominated by genocide, enslavement, colonialism, not to mention institutional scandal around every corner, Michelle asks whether we have reached saturation, a state of scepticism in the face of the act of apologising.

Later Michelle will host a live Q & A with artist Annabel McCourt offering the audience a chance to learn more about what motivates the prolific artist behind I’m Sorry, Electric Fence, REMOTE, MAGA Grabber the list goes on.

Book here

I’m Sorry – Poetry and Zine Workshops

Poetry and Spoken Word Workshops
Monday October 28
Monday November 4
Monday November 11

Zine Workshops
Monday November 18
Monday November 25
Monday December 2

All sessions will run 2pm-4pm

Free, no booking required

The Warren Youth Project (the old Chinese Laundry store)

Poet and writer Vicky Foster and printmaker and illustrator Layla Jabbari will deliver workshops in response to Annabel McCourt’s exhibition I’m Sorry at Humber Street Gallery, exploring the nature of apology. Vicky will deliver poetry and spoken word workshops, and Layla will deliver zine workshops, using some of the work created in Vicky’s workshops.

These workshops are being hosted by The Warren Youth Project and are open to anyone aged 16-25. Each of the following sessions will take place in The Warren’s current open access space (in the old Chinese Laundry store next door to Dram Shop pub. No need to book, just turn up!

Zine Launch event including open mic poetry and spoken word, at Humber Street Gallery on Thursday January 16th, 7-9pm.

About Vicky Foster
Vicky Foster is a writer, performer, poet and teacher. Her work and interviews have been broadcast on Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio 5, Radio 6 and Radio Humberside. Her first audio drama, Bathwater aired on Radio 4 in 2019, is published by Wrecking Ball Press and won The Imison Award at the 2020 BBC Audio Drama Awards. It Happened Like This was published by Bloomsbury in 2024.

About Layla Jabbari
Layla is a freelance illustrator from Hull. Her projects have involved a variety of outcomes – from animations, prints and zines to community art and playfully combines printmaking and collage layered in the digital space. She is a tutor at Feral Art College.