Hull is ending its centenary tribute to Philip Larkin, one of the 20th-century’s greatest poets, with a free exhibition featuring his personal photographs, letters, draft poetry, artefacts and even doodles.
Part of national celebrations to mark his 100th birthday this year, Hull Central Library hosts Larkin’s Lighted Rooms: Love, Death and Hull, an immersive experience featuring film, poems, music and readings drawn from Philip Larkin’s life in Hull, his adopted ‘home’ city.
Born in Coventry, Larkin spent the last 30 years of his life in Hull, from 1955-85, where he was Hull University Librarian and from where he wrote some of his most famous poetry collections, including The Whitsun Weddings (1964) and High Windows (1974).
The city has already staged celebrations to mark what would have been his 100th birthday year, including at Hull’s annual flagship cultural event, the Freedom Festival, in August, and an exhibition showing the poet in a new light by artist DJ Roberts, famous for his neon artwork.
Now a new installation – commissioned as part of Larkin 100, a national celebration of Larkin’s centenary – will provide a final showcase for his work during the poet’s anniversary year.
Designed by Zsolt Baloch and Kathryn Johnson of Palma Studios, the creative team responsible for the acclaimed Made in Hull that opened Hull’s 2017 City of Culture year, the exhibition will be utilise multiple projectors and surround sound.
It will turn the James Reckitt Reading Room at the Library into a representation of Larkin’s internal thoughts and external influences during his time in Hull. Many of the items featured have been loaned from the Estate of Philip Larkin, The Philip Larkin Society and other associated bodies.
Launched on 3 December, the exhibition runs until Wednesday 21 December 2022.
Widely regarded as Britain’s favourite post war poet, Larkin’s connections to his adopted city can be seen in his poems, which were often inspired by his experience of living in, and travelling to and from, Hull.
Those links are also proudly celebrated in the city today, with passengers arriving at Hull Paragon Interchangerailway station greeted by a statue of the poet ‘walking’ in the hall, while the station also boasts a distinctive Larkin memorial bench.
Visitors can also follow in his footsteps to learn more about the man, and his fascination with the city, on the self-guided Larkin Trail, offering the chance to see the city through the poet’s eyes (www.thelarkintrail.co.uk).
For tourism information about visiting, and staying in, Hull, see www.visithull.org