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Nov 2024
Art exhibition inspired by Harrogate toilets opens
A new exhibition inspired by Harrogate hotel toilets has opened.
Secrets of the Majestic, an 88-page comic book anthology of stories, was inspired by the lavish loos of the Majestic Hotel.
Now an exhibition based on the book has opened at Mercer Art Gallery and will run until March 2025.
The display is being hosted in partnership with the Thought Bubble Festival convention, the UK’s largest comic art festival which draws around 15,000 visitors.
At past annual convention parties, held in the Majestic Hotel, the anthology editor Chris Mole and fellow artists were inspired by the public toilets, leading to the creation of the anthology of short stories examining this remarkable restroom.
Mr Mole said:
After several years of mucking around taking pictures in the toilets, I decided the time was right to put together an anthology of stories exploring why the toilets are like that.
This is the result, a collection of short stories which explore various explanations and theories for such an opulent porcelain palace, from horror to action to science fiction and fantasy.
The comic artwork will be on display at the Mercer Gallery until March.
Cllr Simon Myers, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said:
Who would have thought that a grand set of hotel toilets could spark such creativity? It is this quirky, unexpected angle that makes it an exciting exhibition and as such we hope to not only appeal to traditional art lovers but also comic art fans opening our doors to a broader audience.
The anthology editor Chris Mole (left) with North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, Councillor Simon Myers, in the restrooms that inspired the exhibition
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