Malcolm Lowry reclining in a deck chair at Dollarton, 1945. University of British Columbia library, rare books and special collections, Malcolm Lowry collection, BC 1614/07Our celebration of Malcolm Lowry (1909 - 57) features a special centenary exhibition and a programme of performances and events.

His Under the Volcano, set in Mexico and written in Canada, is considered one of the most significant 20th century novels, and has influenced painters, filmmakers, choreographers, musicians as well as writers.

Under the Volcano: An exhibition for Malcolm Lowry (1909 - 57)

This exhibition brings together artists from Merseyside, the UK, Mexico and Chile, each relating to Lowry in different ways. Paintings by Julian Cooper (from his Under the Volcano series), Pete Flowers and Adrian Henri (taking a Mexican Day of the Dead theme, the latter setting it in Liverpool), are shown alongside watercolours by Edward Burra, who visited Lowry in the 1930s in Cuernavaca. This Mexican town, where Under the Volcano is set, is home to Cisco Jimenez, represented here with sculptures.

Jorge Martinez Garcia's prints reflect the book's themes, and there are cartoons by Ray Lowry and Brian O'Toole. Cian Quayle's film and photographs interrogate Lowry's fascination with the Isle of Man. Northern Art Prizewinner Paul Rooney has made a new film, Bellevue, co-commissioned by Film & Video Umbrella, drawing on Lowry'd time in New York, and Ross Birrell & David Harding's film installation traces Lowry's footsteps to the shadow of the Mexican volcanoes that inspired his novel. Also included is rare and previously unseen documentary material, collated by Colin Dilnot, relating to Lowry's Merseyside childhood; screenings of an acclaimed 1976 Canadian TV documentary on Lowry; and documentation from the Malcolm Lowry Room nightclub in Vancouver.

An illustrated book, Malcolm Lowry: From the Mersey to the World, published by Liverpool University Press in collaboration with the Bluecoat and edited by Helen Tookey and Bryan Biggs, includes images from the exhibition and texts by Lowry's biographer Gordon Bowker and others.

Artists' Talks (Free)

Tue 6 Oct, 6.30pm - Paul Rooney on Lowry and New York

Tue 20 Oct, 6.30pm - Ross Birrell & David Harding and Julian Cooper on Lowry and Under the Volcano

Tue 3 Nov, 6.30pm - Cian Quayle & Pete Flowers on Lowry, the Isle of Man and Day of the Dead

Exhibition Tour (Free)

Sat 17 Oct, 12.00noon - Bryan Biggs, Artistic Director at the Bluecoat and curator of the Under the Volcano exhibition

Exhibition Tours (Free)

Every Saturday, 2.00pm throughout the exhibition (25 Sept - 22 Nov)

Throughout October & November look out for other Malcom Lowry Centenary events, indicated by skull icons.