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A new exhibition by Turner Prize-winning artist and Sussex alumnus Jeremy Deller celebrates the provocative and off-beat side of campus life in a series of postcards inspired by the University’s photo archives.

The postcards – featuring moments from the past 50 years – form part of Sussex Incidents, which opens in the Library exhibition space on 23 April and runs Monday-Saturday (10.30am–5.30pm) until 18 May.

The exhibition, part of the University’s 50^th anniversary celebrations, draws its inspiration from materials and photographs from the Special Collections archives.

The exhibits include a recreation of a 1960s student common room and selected archive images of staff and student experiences, including posters, flyers and photographs reflecting on the Sussex reputation for student activism.

Other curios include an old hose-pipe, a student petition board and a bust of the campus architect, Sir Basil Spence. Contemporary images donated by recent and current students bring the story up to date.

The postcard series of 50 images, displayed in seaside-style postcard racks, will also be available around campus at various locations (Falmer Bar, East Slope, Falmer Common Room, the Meeting House and others) for everyone to view and to take away.

Jeremy, who studied at Sussex and is currently collaborating with his former tutor Professor David Alan Mellor on a major exhibition in London, is celebrated for work that includes the re-enactment of a violent clash between police and miners during the 1980s strike (The Battle of Orgreave) and the exhibiting of a bomb-blasted wreck of a car taken from Iraq (It Is What It Is).

He says: “It was great to root around in the Sussex archives, finding some gems and oddities.”

Doctoral researcher Alice Compton has been working with Jeremy to create the exhibition, assisted by art history undergraduates.

Alice, who is investigating photography during times of austerity for her doctorate, says: “Working with Jeremy on this project has been fascinating, particularly given his enthusiasm for the esoteric, eccentric aspects of folk culture.

“Sussex is a great case study, particularly as the archive's holdings weave memories of protest, eccentric happenings and bizarre events through everyday student life.”

Edward Palmer, a second-year student in Art History and Film Studies, is one of the undergraduates assisting with the exhibition. Edward says: “It’s been interesting to see how an exhibition comes together, as it’s a less rigid process than I thought. I like Jeremy’s work, so it’s been good to work with him.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, says: “We are very proud to be collaborating with Jeremy as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, which will help to build on the University's ongoing involvement with the contemporary visual arts and provide a platform for creative and visual arts at the University.”