Life in post-war Birmingham is being dramatically recreated in the form of a solo art exhibition on Westside.
The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery has launched ‘I Was Made in Brum’, the first solo art exhibition by Colin Fisher.
The collection of 30 paintings will remain on display at the gallery in King Edward’s Road until December 31.
Born and bred in Birmingham, Colin has brought together evocative, original paintings of life growing up in the city he loves in the 1950s.
He said: “Life was tough and, with little food and rationing, us kids had to make do with what we could find and forage from bomb sites.
“We used our finds to make our own amusement – mokes [go-carts] from old prams and bikes, football posts from our jumpers, cricket bats from bits of wood and the stumps from a box, or chalk on a wall.”
Colin’s exhibition also explores the different shades of grey in his everyday life back then, from the smoke bellowing out of factory chimneys to playing on the banks of the canals across Birmingham.
His amazing portrayal of this atmosphere gives a nostalgic throwback that is colourful, theatrical and illustrative, and puts the city into an historic perspective that will almost certainly bring smiles, joy and appreciation of the city that made him.
With the use of vivid colourful characters, Colin’s exhibition will take viewers on a journey, imagining the 1950’s and how families lived and experienced life back then, particularly children’s experiences in the city after the Blitz.
Colin and The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery said they were delighted to be in partnership with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for the exhibition “in recognition of all our soldiers who fought so bravely”.
A percentage of all art sales will be donated to ABF, which is the national charity of the British Army, providing lifetime support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families when in need.
The charity was founded in 1944 to ensure that soldiers returning from World War Two were well cared for.
Colin was himself drafted into the army at the age of 18 and later served in Cyprus.
An art gallery spokesperson said: “The public are encouraged to come and support this amazing artist by investing in a piece of his work, either for themselves or to give someone as a special gift at Christmas time.”
