The Turner Prize winning artist Mark Leckey curates The Universal Addressability of Dumb Things, the latest of Hayward Touring's artist-curated exhibitions. Opening at the Bluecoat, Liverpool on 16 February 2013, the exhibition includes work by Thomas Bayrle, Louise Bourgeois, William Blake, Prunella Clough, Jim Shaw and Tøyen.

The Universal Addressability of Dumb Things explores the tenuous boundaries between virtual and real worlds. As modern technology becomes ever more sophisticated and pervasive, objects communicate with us: phones talk back, refrigerators suggest recipes and websites anticipate our desires. This exhibition explores the concept of techno-animism, whereby the inanimate seemingly comes to life. Through a conceptual assemblage of archaeological artefacts, contemporary artworks and visionary machines, Mark Leckey creates a network of objects - communicating, talking to one another and, implicitly, looking back at us.

The marvels and oddities in The Universal Addressability of Dumb Things include a clay concept car; a medieval stone gargoyle; an Egyptian cat mummy; a 13th century silver reliquary in the form of a hand; a version of Temple Grandin's Squeeze/Hug Machine (designed to calm hyper-sensitive persons); a mandrake root; the original bronze cast of the famous Lindow bog man's reconstructed head; and a 1940s model of a cat used to demonstrate reflexes.

Artists in the exhibition include: Thomas Bayrle, Louise Bourgeois, Prunella Clough, Robert Gober, Nicola Hicks, Alex Hubbard, Dwight Mackintosh, Pierre Molinier, James Rosenquist, Jim Shaw, William Blake, Il Guercino, John Tenniel and Tøyen.

Hayward Touring produces exhibitions that tour to galleries, museums and other publicly-funded venues throughout Britain. Hayward Touring collaborate with artists, independent curators, writers and partner institutions to develop and tour imaginative exhibitions that are seen by approximately half a million people in over 100 cities and towns each year. Hayward Touring also extends to smaller monographic print, photography or new media exhibitions touring to a variety of venues, including galleries, libraries, universities, colleges and schools, arts centres and historic sites. Current and recent exhibitions include A Universal Archive: William Kentridge as Printmaker, George Grosz: The Big NO and British Art Show 7: In the Days of the Comet.

Southbank Centre

Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying a 21-acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site has an extraordinary creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and the Hayward Gallery as well as The Saison Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. www.southbankcentre.co.uk.