Great North Museum: Hancock Exhibition

Where did all the Animals Go? 2021 by Jane Lee McCracken exhibits printed vinyls of original Biro drawings by over 600 children from North East and international schools, who participated in Jane’s workshops.

Image credits top and above: © Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums / Colin Davison

Through the visual art of drawing, one of the oldest forms of communication, these drawings portray some of the world’s most vulnerable species, many of which face extinction. Evocative and uninhibited, each portrait depicts an individual being that plays a vital role in its ecosystem, while contemplating what their eyes have seen. This exhibition provides an opportunity to form connections with each species, through the creative response of a generation of young people. Also on display are large format prints of Jane’s original Biro drawings Butterfly Lover and Khan.

© Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums / Colin Davison

Founded in 2019, in partnership with international wildlife charity Born Free, and working with dynamic teams of educators and conservationists from England, Kenya, California, Guyana and Malaysia, Jane’s Where did all the Animals Go? Project aims to encourage the growth of collective responsibility towards wildlife conservation and welfare while giving children, communities and wildlife both locally and globally, a voice.

Amanda, Guyana © Jane Lee McCracken

Jane’s own practice explores loss generated by human destruction. She creates multi-layered Biro drawings, sculptures, installations and designs commercial products often featuring endangered species.

Born Free works tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs… opposing the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaigning to Keep Wildlife in the Wild.

Jackson, Kenya © Jane Lee McCracken

Great North Museum: Hancock is located in the heart of Newcastle and holds a wealth of collections, including natural history, archaeology, geology and world cultures. The museum was purpose built in Newcastle as a natural history museum in 1884 to house the growing collections of the Natural History Society of Northumbria. The Where Did All The Animals Go? exhibition is on permanent display in the museum’s Living Planet Gallery, which contains many of the museum’s oldest and most-loved exhibits.

© Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums / Colin Davison