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Two figures are sat together in a dusky, sunlit car. The passenger turns their head to look to the driver. The driver, with hands on the wheel, can be seen smiling in the rear view mirror of the car. The blue-tinged road ahead is clear.
Two construction cranes are seen rising above the dirt, against the backdrop of Birmingham’s city skyline. Concrete, high rise accommodation is backed by a cloudy, blue sky.
An image at night, from a window ajar, looking to a building which reads ‘BIRMINGHAM COACH STATION’ in illuminated lettering. The sky is deep blue, and street lamps are dotted along the winding road.
Two figures are sat together in a dusky, sunlit car. The passenger turns their head to look to the driver. The driver, with hands on the wheel, can be seen smiling in the rear view mirror of the car. The blue-tinged road ahead is clear.

‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ (2026), Laisul Hoque. Image courtesy of Laisul Hoque.

Two construction cranes are seen rising above the dirt, against the backdrop of Birmingham’s city skyline. Concrete, high rise accommodation is backed by a cloudy, blue sky.

‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ (2026), Laisul Hoque. Image courtesy of Laisul Hoque.

An image at night, from a window ajar, looking to a building which reads ‘BIRMINGHAM COACH STATION’ in illuminated lettering. The sky is deep blue, and street lamps are dotted along the winding road.

‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ (2026), Laisul Hoque. Image courtesy of Laisul Hoque.

July Digbeth First Friday: ‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ by Laisul Hoque

3 July 20265–8pm

Join us at Grand Union from 5-8pm on Friday, 3 July for the launch of ‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’, a new body of work by artist Laisul Hoque.

Seen through the perspective of someone learning to navigate Birmingham as a first-generation migrant, Laisul captures the inner worlds and emotional landscapes of the city’s residents, building community through exchanges of services, labour, and time.

‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ is supported by Arts Council England, Bow Arts East London Art Prize and Grand Union. With thanks to MJM Bespoke for fabrication and installation.

5–6pm – A relaxed hour and quieter time for people to enjoy the exhibition with less crowds and no bar. We politely ask visitors to wear a mask, and avoid wearing perfume during this time.

6–8pm – Full opening with pay bar as part of the wider Digbeth First Friday event.

‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ will screen online via our website, during the opening and closing weekends of the exhibition:

Friday, 3 July – Monday, 6 July 2026

Friday, 2 October – Monday, 5 October 2026

To learn more about Laisul Hoque, click here to visit his 'Artist Projects' page →To learn more about Digbeth First Friday, click here →

Content Warning

The conversations and archival footage included in the film discuss the political experience of being Bangladeshi and the history of Bangladesh.

There are brief, scattered references to some topics that some viewers may find upsetting including: warfare, loss of life, violence, assassination, military coups, colonialism, genocide, and racial prejudice. There are images/videos of weapons, uprisings, and the aftermath of violence.

Access Information

Grand Union is located up two flights of stairs with no lift access.

There is a spacious gender neutral bathroom on site with no mobility aids.

There will be a quiet opening from 5-6pm, with no bar and less crowds. We ask people to wear a mask and not wear perfume for this time.

There will be a pay bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks from 6-8pm.

There will be masks and hand sanitiser at the entrance to Grand Union available for your use.

Photography will be taking place on site for documentation purposes and these images may be used on our social media, website, in reporting, and other places.

Please get in touch via email at info@grand-union.org.uk or phone at 0121 643 9079 for any questions or to discuss access further.

Click here to download our pre-show document (PDF) →

Related

Two figures are sat together in a dusky, sunlit car. The passenger turns their head to look to the driver. The driver, with hands on the wheel, can be seen smiling in the rear view mirror of the car. The blue-tinged road ahead is clear.

‘Learning to Drive in Birmingham’ by Laisul Hoque

4 July – 3 October 2026
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