MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – 2025

WARNING: FLASHING IMAGES AND NUDITY

the real WARNING: lazy post/possibly came out after midnight

Culture still present, Hull is still growing and bursting with culture. But I am one foot here, one foot away from Hull.
So this post is [not even hiding this fact] lastminutedotcom and it will be lazy short sweet pastry pie, very tiny insight into year of 2025.

lets go

For starters, the real star this year is Humber Street Gallery. In 2025 three ace exhibitions plus more. The gallery delivers diverse experience.

If I look back my most memorable cultural engagements been there: front exhibition space loaded with cozy sofas for a movie night, Lens Lab collaboration and smaller projects getting exhibited. From Bananarchy! to I’m sorry by Annabel McCourt; Incognito by Cosey Fanni Tutti

The exhibition below : I’m sorry by Annabel McCourt particular favorite of the year. I had a moment there mid week in a pretty empty gallery. I was sat in the space and all the messages sound-surrounded my brain as if I could hear the people whispering. No ghosts, really a proof that art is impactful.

Ferens Open Exhibition 2025 this year was good. The young generation was represented beautifully, usually most joy shines through that. Main exhibition had some spectacular showcases and even though photography never really gets the accurate exposure, I will forgive the mess, sculptures, paintings and other media really is fascinating.

Freedom Festival 2025 too was visited. From my vague memory of feeling; I took the festival visit as a break from extensive weekend workload situation, sort of off duty. Sun was shining and people enjoying the festival: what more can you ask.

For leisure purposes I think it can be hit and miss, over the years I have noticed very similar performances, more diversity would go a long way for picky spectators. Content-wise, fantastic photo opportunities.

Brew and Karim Skalli collab was a little treat for a longing soul. We came home with art. Some art on the wall in the dinging room. Great venue, supports all types of local artists and Karim’s work so subtle but powerful, analog wonder.

Elsewhere in Hull:

Then Hull:

And then on other news in Hull:

Colliderfest 2025

It was the dark evening that was lit up, Hull danced. As a spectator truly immersed myself into it. I had some lovely work for the festival done during the daytime activities, and it was very nice to stroll with no brief on the night.

Ahhhhhhhh, I don’t feel very proud this year, Hull has been on a smaller radar in 2025 due to work commitments. I was often sad to miss out local art/culture, I was aware of it, yet far away.

Gutted, but whatever is here is what I tried so hard to get to. It is the people around who encourage and motivate so for that I thank all.

I will keep my promises quiet, we’ll just see how 2026 calendar pans out, but Hull – keep thriving!

much love

Anete Sooda Photo

That mystery trip of 2002

This was when we were able to do fun things, mingle, to breathe on each other and stay over. I was c h e e s e f a c e happy and excited to go on my first real British National Holiday Mystery Tour with other three friends. I was excited about the mystery location, about the grannies on the coach, about eating crisps on the coach and, most importantly, wonder around new cities, soak up new culture and relax. We even had a little betting game of where we will go. If I correctly remember I was the closest one to guess with putting Coventry in line and I won a pint of beer. Lichfield and Derby on the day 2 were our mystery locations, and, although not really tropical and exotic at first thought, it was a pretty good. We actually got soaked more than normal in August, and it was rather nippy for the time of the year, but we survived that too.

Since the current states is a bit plain in my line of work, I’m finally getting time to edit and revisit old personal and semi personal imagery/content.

Two main attraction points was the stunning Lichfield Cathedral and Darby Museum and Art Gallery with two exhibitions – Bare Bones and Wild: A Celebration of the Natural History of the British Isles

The best thing about the concept of mystery trip is the unknown. No pre planning was that little freedom. We just set ourselves to a random direction and strolled through beautiful town centre through Lichfield Cathedral

It goes without saying that the cathedral was gorgeous and it had little exhibits [including a children’s play area with a coffin as a centrepiece].

It resembled Hull Minster and how these incredible buildings can be used not just to pray, but also bring communities and people together with art flare in the middle.

The cathedral is enormous and takes time to walk around, but the view up is stunning.

Lichfield was welcoming and friendly, good vibes and all that was enhanced by an accidental farmers market with something for everyone – alpaca meat, apple moonshine and ice lolly artworks.

Day two brought rain. Enough rain to skip exploring Derby and hide into Darby Museum and Art Gallery.

It was actually funny visit to a museum/art gallery with three grown ups with different interests in life. We laughed, learned stuff and were fascinated by the collection of bugs and creepy crawlers. Skeletons, drawing stuff, assembling horse and escaping hunger with weird sausage rolls.

I loved the intense red at the Bare Bones. From seeing so many exhibitions over the years valued its great ability to educate and amaze at the same time.

The other big part was the Wild: A Celebration of the Natural History of the British Isles and this had a mixed reaction. Some of the bugs and creatures raised goosebumps with my imagination flying to the worse scenarios and confrontation with them.

But it was beautifully set out and organised teaching me all about British Isles wildlife.

And there was there rest of the museum and gallery – again, very good and educational with not many yawns.

It was a shame that the rain spoiled seeing the city, but we probably wouldn’t have seen these beauties, so all good and forgiven. We did had Derby sausage rolls and saw the giant sheep. Plus visited the entertainment centre and played some indoor games.

Fun times, fun times. All being well we might be able to repeat that in 2025. Maybe. But for now we listen to Boris, say thank you for good health and plan our future dream destinations.

MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 38

SURPRISE SURPRISE I HAVE LEFT HULL FOR A BIT. SO I CULTURED MYSELF WITH WHAT WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE WEEK.
Gutted that I’m not in Hull this weekend, there was so many wonderful things happening,  so I hope you all enjoyed it.

First stop this week was the ARCO HARD HAT CHALLENGE DISPLAY in St. Stephens. Walked past it last week without camera on me and instead celebrated the masterpieces this week.

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One thing is for sure – each hard hat is as precious as people in Hull are, also most of them are really well represented as signatures of Hull. Great work!

Other thing I visited was the INSIGHT – A COLLECTION OF WORK BY GEOFF HEWITT, ANGELA BELL & HEATHER BURTON.

The paintings are displayed in House of Fraser – home for the top brand fashion, home ect.

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In the background Hull17 shop was stealing the attention as I really like all the merchandise. Colours, shapes and content for most of the stationary, gifts, T shirts and other bits are pretty cool. I am refusing to get something just yet, as I want to wait until the year finishes and choose my favourite after.

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Anyway… I had one of the best Hull17 converastions with a man who I claim to be the face of Freedom Festival and arm of UK City Of Culture 2017. He is wise, he is keen and the best conversations around culture are with people like him.

And off course I took photograph of him. Because how I can I not? Each or most of the photographs are memories of this amazing year, so I don’t want to forget that day, the reason for being there and that minute when we shared culture.

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The last season of the year is fast approaching. TELL THE WORLD is expected to be spectacular and I am excited. Too excited and worried that there isn’t enough time on my hands to fully experience the goodness…we’ll see.

See you soon, people.