Playback / Rewind: South Asian Sound & Memory

This free exhibition by Jimmy Turrell will run from Saturday 4th July – Saturday 10th October 2026 at The Gallery in Gateshead Central Library.

About the exhibition

Playback / Rewind: South Asian Sound & Memory brings together a new body of work by artist Jimmy Turrell, developed through research into Bollywood vinyl, printed ephemera, and the lived histories of South Asian communities in Gateshead.

Working with collected albums, archive material and visual fragments, Turrell reinterprets these sources through collage, print and large-scale compositions. The works explore how music travels across generations and geographies, carrying memory, identity and cultural connection.

Blending analogue and digital processes, the exhibition transforms archival material into a new visual language, reflecting the relationship between sound, migration and place.

Commissioned by GemArts for Masala Festival’s 10th Anniversary and Gateshead Libraries’ Centenary.

About Jimmy Turrell

Jimmy Turrell is a renowned graphic artist and video director, whose bold mixed media work never fails to make a statement.

After growing up in Gateshead, Jimmy went on to study at Central St Martins School of Art in London, where he honed his skills across a wide range of artforms. These days, his work crosses the boundaries between collage, drawing, painting, screenprinting and digital techniques, often combining approaches to create something totally unique. His art takes an active form, as he frequently creates large-scale paste-ups before tearing and working into them to create a sense of movement and distortion.

Jimmy’s past client list is a who’s who of well-known brands – including Universal Music, The New York Times, The Guardian, Channel 4, The Royal Opera House, Adidas, Nike, Levis, Chanel and Glastonbury Festival (to name but a few!). He’s created album covers, music videos and stage visuals for the likes of Beck, Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, The Rolling Stones and the estates of Elvis and Aretha Franklin. Jimmy has also developed limited edition clothing collections for HUGO Boss and Neuw Denim.

Don’t miss your chance to see Jimmy Turrell’s specially commissioned exhibition right here in Gateshead, as we mark 10 years of Masala Festival with a piece created by this local legend.

About Masala Festival

GemArts’ award-winning Masala Festival returns from 13th – 19th July for its 10th anniversary, bringing a vibrant mix and blend of the finest South Asian arts and culture to the North East. Enjoy an incredible programme of performances, exhibitions, events, workshops, talks, pop-ups, and of course, delicious Indian food in venues, places and spaces across the region. Don’t miss this special milestone year!

For the full Masala Festival 2026 programme, visit www.gemarts.org/whatson