Exhibition exploring the shaping of images through time, technology, and perception to launch at CCA Derry-Londonderry
Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland – On January 17, 2026, the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) in Derry-Londonderry will launch “IT’S NOT CLEAR FROM HERE,” a group exhibition curated by Ashleigh Wilson. The exhibition, which is a part of the “New Curating 2026” program, will run until March 14, 2026, and features work by artists Thomas Hunter, Sabi Nicholson, and Lucy Tevlin.
“IT’S NOT CLEAR FROM HERE” delves into the use of archival material and lens-based media to examine how images are influenced by time, technology, and the act of looking. The exhibition will explore the gallery space as a platform where narratives can shift and meaning is continuously reformed. Through photography and film, the works will reflect on technological advancements, environmental crises, and the concept of belonging, presenting images as unstable, partial, and often elusive.
One of the featured artists, Thomas Hunter, will present a two-screen installation that combines personal footage with archival news material from Northern Ireland. Growing up in Belgium, Hunter was exposed to images of Ireland through family trips and media coverage of the conflict. His work will juxtapose tourist imagery of rural landscapes with newsreel footage from the later years of the Troubles. Additionally, live audience movement within the gallery will actively distort the work in real-time, implicating viewers in the construction of memory and place.
Sabi Nicholson’s installation will respond to the ecological crisis at Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. Utilizing archival fishing documentaries, Nicholson will project warped imagery through contaminated lough water, accompanied by lumen prints made using local flora. The sound, water, and image will spill into the gallery, reflecting on environmental degradation and the lough as a haunted and unstable landscape.
Lucy Tevlin’s work will feature unopened rolls of shot and developed 8mm film sourced online, with unknown contents to both the artist and viewer. Accompanied by speculative texts and projections, the work will shift the focus away from the image itself and towards the fragile technologies and structures that produce it. Tevlin’s work will question how images are made, withheld, and imagined.
Curated by Ashleigh Wilson, an artist, researcher, and cultural producer based in Belfast, “IT’S NOT CLEAR FROM HERE” reflects on the precarious status of images in post-conflict Northern Ireland. With unresolved histories and ever-shifting narratives, the exhibition will highlight the impact of images on our understanding of the region.
The exhibition will also feature archival material from Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, an online resource that chronicles the region’s rich moving image heritage. The archive, spanning over a century, offers a window into the cultural, social, and historical journey of Northern Ireland.
“IT’S NOT CLEAR FROM HERE” will be accompanied by a series of public events. Admission to the exhibition is free, and the gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 6 pm.
About CCA Derry~Londonderry:
The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) is a publicly funded space within the historic city walls of Derry-Londonderry. CCA aims to provide audiences with opportunities to experience ambitious, experimental, and engaging art and support emerging artists in developing successful careers. The CCA fosters a wide range of artistic, curatorial, and critical practices through five program streams: research and production, exhibition-making, public programs, publishing, and residencies. CCA was a finalist in the 2021 Art Fund Museum of the Year, the largest museum prize in the world, for their resilience and adaptability during the pandemic and their continued efforts to support audiences and artists.
CCA is also a member of Plus Tate, a network of 35 cultural institutions, including the Tate galleries, with a strong artistic vision, focus on contemporary art, outstanding public programming, and commitment to community engagement through art.
About Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive:
The Digital Film Archive (DFA) is a flagship resource of Northern Ireland Screen, providing broad access to the region’s rich moving image heritage. The archive, spanning over a century from 1897 to the present day, is available online and chronicles Northern Ireland’s cultural, social, and historical journey. It also features material documenting pre-Partition Ireland, offering valuable insights for audiences across the UK, Ireland, and internationally. With over 6,000 hours of content, the DFA encompasses a wide range of genres, formats, and themes, providing a window into the lives, stories, and events that have shaped Northern Ireland.
For media inquiries, please contact Vanessa Marsh, Marketing Coordinator for CCA Derry~Londonderry, at vanessa@ccadld.org or +44(
