3 am: wonder, paranoia and the restless night

The words '3 am,' and 'Liverpool' can unfortunately conjure a rather grizzly image of streets splattered with vomit, vodka and violence. However, within the confines of the Bluecoat, those scenes are a lot more palatable as their current exhibition (28/09/13 - 24/11/13) '3 am: wonder,paranoia and the restless night' demonstrates. 

A melange of over twenty international artists were selected to showcase their interpretations of this hour, ranging invariably in meaning and media. The exhibition uncovers the world of both the insomniac and the somnambulist, revealing something deliciously dark in wake of the midnight hour. 

Particularly captivating was Brazilian born, Tonico Lemos Auad's contribution. His embroidered structures spoke of the delicacy of night by presenting something precious in suspension, as our minds are in sleep.

Both the craftsmanship and execution were inspired, as was the utilisation of glowing light draped in tendrils of thread, which definitely didn't entangled me...

Something equally ephemeral was the work of Rachel Kneebone, who had cast the elasticity of our night minds in porcelain, thus immortalising the erratic thought. 

At first Tom Woods' film photos of nightclub attendees may seem conceptually hackneyed. However, as the photos were taken in the 1980s they offer a broader scope of timelessness; every generation has experienced this hour in all of its drunken, naive glory, which is quietly comforting.  

Where Wood's snaps hold solace in youth and frivolity, Sophy Rickett's prints are memorable for humour. Tongue thrust firmly into cheek, Rickett has conquered irony with female subjects caught short in the night, dowsing their local shrubbery with golden showers...

Or maybe they're just pissing in the wind...

The amalgamation of talent such as these truly captures the nocturnal state of disorientation, confusion and deprivation of daylight. Disturbing, disruptive and devious, 3 am will not easily be forgotten. 

Note: It was only 3pm here, so you won't catch me breaking the seal just yet...