The word 'Sting' displayed on a microscopic image of a European Hornet
Exhibitions

STING

Join us for Sting’, a free art exhi­bi­tion by ZEST Col­lec­tive, host­ed by Auger Collective.

Dates
01/05/26 – 09/05/26
Organisation
Region
Bournemouth
Opening Times
Sun–Tue, Closed
Wed–Sat, 11:00 – 17:00

ZEST Collective presents ‘Sting’, their ninth exhibition and first installment in a series of two.

Hosted by Auger Collective this group show brings together 18 artists in an exploration of resilience and creative survival.

The exhibition title, ‘Sting’ emerges from the emotional impact of rejection, a shared experience which many artists navigate when sustaining a creative practice, whilst also drawing parallel with the literal definition of the venomous sting of the Auger sea snail.

Highlighting the intersection between professional adversity and biological defence the show asks the question: what happens after the sting? Do we retreat, or do we respond?

If the sting is inevitable, ‘Sting’ asks what it means to answer back. From systemic barriers of rejection from unanswered applications, loss of funding and the erosion of accessible creative spaces, to the physicality of being stung, this exhibition offers a collective response.

Encompassing works which confront the brief directly and others which reflect more subtly on the theme of defiance and transformation. ‘Sting’ holds this question open, inviting responses that are personal, political, and provocative.