R-Space show is ‘unreal’ says animator

Left Hand Cinema will be curating an evening at R-Space Gallery today (Friday) as part of the gallery’s ‘Visioning’ programme, which is being supported by the Arts Council.
Kerry, Jacob, Rik, and Callum Peel with Tomau gather at a sneak preview of the upcoming animation of Riks Dog #7 which premiers on May 3rd from 7-9pm at R-Space Gallery, Castle Street, Lisburn US2113-401PM Pic by Paul MurphyKerry, Jacob, Rik, and Callum Peel with Tomau gather at a sneak preview of the upcoming animation of Riks Dog #7 which premiers on May 3rd from 7-9pm at R-Space Gallery, Castle Street, Lisburn US2113-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy
Kerry, Jacob, Rik, and Callum Peel with Tomau gather at a sneak preview of the upcoming animation of Riks Dog #7 which premiers on May 3rd from 7-9pm at R-Space Gallery, Castle Street, Lisburn US2113-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy

During the evening, Left Hand Cinema will give a presentation on the impact the media and social media saturated world has had on Rik Peel, the man behind Left Hand Cinema, as an autistic man.

Lisburn man Rik, who is an artist and animator, has Aspergers Syndrome and both his teenage sons are autistic as well.

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The work generated by Rik and Left Hand Cinema are heavily influenced by Rik’s struggle to live in the world of the ‘neurotypical’.

Kerry, Jacob, Rik, and Callum Peel with Tomau gather at a sneak preview of the upcoming animation of Riks Dog #7 which premiers on May 3rd from 7-9pm at R-Space Gallery, Castle Street, Lisburn US2113-401PM Pic by Paul MurphyKerry, Jacob, Rik, and Callum Peel with Tomau gather at a sneak preview of the upcoming animation of Riks Dog #7 which premiers on May 3rd from 7-9pm at R-Space Gallery, Castle Street, Lisburn US2113-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy
Kerry, Jacob, Rik, and Callum Peel with Tomau gather at a sneak preview of the upcoming animation of Riks Dog #7 which premiers on May 3rd from 7-9pm at R-Space Gallery, Castle Street, Lisburn US2113-401PM Pic by Paul Murphy

This new presentation, which people can view on Friday evening, is entitled ‘The Unreality Show’.

“It is a personal metaphysical take on media culture and is a way of explaining how reality TV and aggressive advertising make me, as an autistic man, feel,” explained Rik.

Kerry Peel, the Director of The Left Hand Cinema and wife of Rik, who has Aspergers Syndrome for seventeen years, has found this experience invaluable as she has found out things she never knew about.

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“As a mother of two teenage autistic sons, I have seen them gain the confidence to find their own ways to express how hugs feel, or sensory issues through feeling encouraged by the strong visuals Rik puts in his blogs and animations,” she said.

‘The Unreality Show’ will be a multi-sensory experience, which incorporates animation, some film work with narration provided by a live music score and performance art.

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