Invasion of the Saucer Men – The Visual Folklore of UFOs, UAPs and Flying Saucers

Free Public Gallery Talk – 6.30 pm, Thursday 26^th March – Tickets HERE

Dr David Clarke and Andrew Robinson will be hosting a free illustrated public talk titled ‘Invasion of the Saucer Men’ to accompany the exhibition of the same name currently on show in the Post Hall Gallery, Old Head Post Office, Fitzalan Square, Sheffield, S1 2AY. The talk takes place in the Gallery space at 6.30pm on Thursday 26^th March.

The talk will explore the visual folklore of UFOs, UAPs and Flying Saucers, with a particular focus on British sightings and publications. David will trace the origins of flying saucer and UFO folklore and explore the important role played by a small group of highly influential individuals.

Andrew will then discuss the initial findings of the ‘In The Eye of the Beholder’ research project he and David have been running for the last three years. The research project has seen the pair host talks and participatory events at locations as far afield as Pennsylvania, USA and Calvine, Scotland including The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies in London, Todmorden’s  Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic, and the National Space Centre in Leicester.

At these events, members of the public were given ten minutes in which to draw what they imagined a UFO might look like, resulting in the 378 drawings presented here. Whilst these inventive and creative images portray all types of UFO, the flying saucer or disc dominates, with more than 65% of drawings picturing this classic shape, a testament to the longevity of this visual legend which dates back to 1947 or earlier. Andrew will also discuss his use of AI in the creation of artworks exploring the contested space between truth and fiction in photographic representations of UFOs.

David will have a few remaining copies of his book ‘UFO Drawings From The National Archives’ (pub. Four Corners, 2017) for sale and there will be a free 60-page booklet to accompany the talk and exhibition for the first 50 attendees.

TICKETS – The talk is FREE, however please register your interest via Eventbrite HERE so we can manage numbers.

• Further information on the exhibition click HERE
• Read an interview with Andrew about the project on the National Folklore Survey website HERE
• Read a review of Andrew’s artwork by Matt Edgar HERE

For further information please contact:

andrew.robinson@shu.ac.uk or david.clarke@shu.ac.uk

Theatrical release poster by Albert Kallis for ‘Invasion of the Saucer-Men’, Dir: Edward L. Cahn,1957 for American International Pictures.