“Of Seeds and Stories” exhibition brings imagination, memory, and natural beauty to
the high street
This October, an empty retail unit in Winchester’s The Brooks Shopping Centre will
be transformed into a temporary art gallery, promising a haven of imagination,
reflection, and natural beauty.
The pop-up exhibition, "Of Seeds and Stories", opens with a special preview on
Saturday 4 October 2025 (4 - 6pm) and runs until 26 October 2025. Entry is free.
Co-curated by Hampshire artists Jo Rose and Olana Light, the exhibition also
features work by Konrad Cox and Amanda Berridge.
Blending folk-inspired storytelling, memory, and the tactile richness of nature, the
exhibition offers a deeply personal and refreshingly modern interpretation of
Hampshire’s forests, chalk downs, coastlines, and rivers. Visitors can expect modern
paintings, ethereal photography, immersive sculptural installations, and finely crafted
wearable art.
Jo Rose says: “Having been looking for a space to showcase my work, I was
absolutely delighted to discover the unit at The Brooks — and even more so
to find how supportive they were of my vision to curate a show featuring local
professional artists. We’re planning something truly special: immersive,
inspiring, and a real celebration of creativity in our community.”
Both award-winning artists in their own right, Rose and Light have joined forces to
challenge the traditional gallery format. By placing art in an accessible, everyday
public space—and away from the scrolling confines of social media—they invite
audiences to experience something rare: a moment of stillness, wonder, and
connection.
Part art installation, part community invitation, “Of Seeds and Stories” features bold
displays, layered textures, delicate details, and pieces that speak to the fragility and
quiet strength of life. The exhibition gently asks visitors to slow down, look closer,
and perhaps leave with a renewed sense of peace—and possibility.
Olana Light adds: “I'm really excited to co-curate this exhibition in such an
unexpected space. My work often lives in public places, through live
performance and sculpture, so showing art in a shopping centre feels like a
natural extension—bringing creativity directly to people in their everyday
lives.”
