Spike Island presented Grey Unpleasant Land, a collaborative exhibition by artists Sophia Al-Maria and Lydia Ourahmane.

Grey Unpleasant Land examined the myth of England as a nation. Combining a range of media—including historical artefacts, speculative narratives, petitions to patrons and a deed of gift—Al-Maria and Ourahmane provided a unique lens through which to investigate the complex and often troubling nature of England’s cultural and historical landscape.

Produced over the course of two years, the exhibition addressed the elephant in the room. As immigrants to the UK, Al-Maria and Ourahmane delve into the “grey areas” of England’s narrative, critically re-examining the stories that have been told—and continue to be told—about origins and belonging.

Together through this ambitious exhibition, Al-Maria and Ourahmane addressed England’s cultural narratives and social frameworks, inviting audiences to consider the malleability of national identity and the ongoing debates surrounding Britain’s legacy as a nation.