RIA Presents: Simeon Barclay, The Ruin

The Ruin is a new performance by British artist Simeon Barclay, commissioned and first presented by the Roberts Institute of Art. This piece combines spoken word and live percussion by James Larter and horn by Isaac Shieh to explore themes of British identity, masculinity and class.

Drawing from his upbringing in Huddersfield as the son of West Indian parents, Barclay reflects on the industrial landscape of northern England in the 1980s and 90s, using rhythm and melody to evoke a rich and layered soundscape.

Presented against the backdrop of Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures and Wakefield’s River Calder, the performance engages with this distinctive environment, where spoken word, sound, and sculpture intersect. The performance also draws inspiration from early modern music, industrial sounds, and pop cultural references, blending them into a theatrical meditation on self-image, memory, and the evolving myth of Britain.

With RIA’s support, Barclay developed The Ruin over a year-long R&D period that included close engagement with theatre, costume and performance.