One Day the Sadness Will End

Unofficial histories, suppressed memories and strategies of resistance
all converged in this major group exhibition, which sought to redress
the legacy of the Russian Revolution on its centenary by exploring how
contemporary artists are responding to the state of the ‘New East’
today.

Each day in the gallery Declan Clarke and Sarah Perks projected the
name of a person, group, or place they believe was betrayed by
revolution. Their research of 66 persons or events built a picture of
specific historical moments attempting to break the waves of history,
with ultimately differing levels of success. These failures were often the
fault of the revolutionary process as much as of reactionary counter
momentum.

Starting from Manchester and branching outwards from the present day
to historical figures and beyond, the collection of people and instances
explores our understanding of revolution, our expectations of success
and failure, and the precariousness of systems that claim to rule and
control. With great change comes the act of change itself: revolutions
invariably turn on themselves.