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Be Yourself: Communities respond to Daniel Lismore

Inspired by Daniel Lismore's recent exhibition at the Herbert, local communities present their own elaborate sculptures using his authentic techniques.

A set of Daniel Lismore-inspired sculptures made by community groups on display. The sculptures are comprised of mannequins dressed elaborately in a range of recycled and repurposed materials, such as fabrics, charity shop clothes and accessories, bottle tops, buttons, beads and jewellery

Artist, designer and activist Daniel Lismore has been described by Vogue as ‘England’s most eccentric dresser’. Lismore grew up in Coventry and Warwickshire, and he has exhibited around the world. In 2022, his retrospective exhibition Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken was held at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, and was received with pride.

Lismore’s unique sculptures inspired the communities of Coventry and Warwickshire to consider their own social, historical and cultural themes and create the elaborate 3D ensembles displayed here. They used Lismore’s authentic techniques including vacuum-forming to curate their curiosities, charity-shop finds, found objects and yards of Alexander McQueen fabric into expressions of their own community concerns and passions.

The legacy of Lismore’s exhibition continues through these extravagant mannequins. We hope that the communities’ messages will resonate and inspire others to investigate, join or support these groups. They are important community scaffolds that maintain this as a strong, caring, conscious and vibrant region.

The launch of this display coincides with International Peace Month to encourage all of us to understand each other better in peace.

Contributing groups include:

Coventry Men’s Shed
Escape Arts
Grapevine - Help and Connect
Hereward College
Hospital Education Service (Coventry)
Nuneaton In Stitches
Sitting Rooms of Culture

With thanks to Artichoke Trust, Alexander McQueen Special Projects & Education, University of Warwick Widening Participation and Outreach – International Manufacturing Centre (WMG)

Close up of the head of a sculpture featuring a white mannequin face with painted features, glittering green lips, a button nose and ribbon bow eyes. There's a feather boa around its neck and it's wearing a headpiece made of a white paper pop-up lampshade stuffed with fabric and paperA sculpture made from a black mannequin, dressed in red and black colours including a big fabric had with black tassels and pink glittering ribbons, red sequin eyes and black mesh wings. Feathers, tunnocks teacakes and flower sprays decorate.

Close-up of a section of a sculpture featuring a vacuum-formed pomegranate, black mesh, flower sprays, tunnocks teacakes, crocheted lace, a dressmakers tape measure, buttons and google eyes around a piece of paper with the text, "THEY R WATCHING"A close up of the face of a white mannequin covered with a mask, decorated with buttons, beads, gems, chains and sequins. False eyelashes stuck to the sculpture are visible in cut-out areas of the mask, and the nose is covered with a light, white fabric.

A mannequin sculpture with a pink mohawk made using pipecleaners and buttons. The mannequin has red lips and is wearing red sunglasses with heart-shaped mirrors faced to the front. Behind it are wings covered in found beads and buttons.A secret of a sculpture featuring a clock face decorated with objects including a pastry brush, Barbie accessories, a spoon, a vegetable peeler, a clothes peg and a small receipt for cake. Beside it is the plastic tray from a box of chocolates, filled with little beaded shapes.

The word, "INCLUSION" written in coloured chalk on black card is fixed to crimson fabric, decorated with gold diamanté chains and a red and gold ribbon bow.A set of sculptures on display in the Herbert. In the foreground is "Frida", a mannequin with a newspaper face and eyes cut out from a magazine. On top of her head is an orange, fringed lampshade with a coloured card fan fixed to the front, and ribbons with messages written on them. Around her neck is an upside down umbrella, painted with patterns and decorated with pom poms.

A section of a sculpture featuring a vinyl record, a cassette, gold-painted screwdrivers, a white fabric cup cake in a cupcake case, decorated with black and white seed beads and bits of jewellery and fabric. A close up of a section of sculpture with a black and white dog eye mask, a strip of gold, sequinned ribbon and two multicoloured foil stars with google eyes stuck to them

A smaller sculpture hangs on the wall behind a larger one, both with necklaces strung with circuit boards. The mannequin in the foreground has a glittering silver face, plastic lid eyes, a blue fabric head scarf, and origami cranes on its shoulder. The smaller mannequin has a black face with a red headscarf and dress. A close-up of "Frida", a mannequin with a newspaper face and eyes cut out from a magazine. On top of her head is an orange, fringed lampshade with a coloured card fan fixed to the front, and ribbons with messages written on them. Around her neck is an upside down umbrella, painted with patterns and decorated with pom poms.

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