This project showcases some of the most critically acclaimed LGBTQIA artists in the UK alongside those who are earlier on in their careers, and will be debuting their work September 23 at Salisbury’s Arts Centre.
The exhibition coincides with this year’s 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, the landmark moment when private homosexual acts between men over 21 in England and Wales were decriminalised in 1967.
Sadie Lee, curator of the exhibition: “Although consenting acts of love between men are no longer punishable by law in the UK, equality still has a way to go and incidents of hate crimes, attacks, bullying and abuse against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex people in this country and around the world are all too regular an occurrence.
“Exhibitions and events can highlight inequalities and help educate and inform beyond the communities they represent, through shared lived experiences.
“By supporting and celebrating diversity in all its forms in municipal spaces and galleries we are ensuring that we progress towards a society which is inclusive and doesn’t exclude or fear difference, but values every member and respects the rights of everyone equally.”
Featured artists include Sadie Lee (Curator), Matthew Stradling, Roxana Halls, Sarah Jane Moon, David Gwinnutt, Michael Petry, Sunil Gupta, Charan Singh, Jason Ford, Sarah Pucill, Richard Sawdon Smith, Annie Attridge, Atalanta Kernick and Anka Dabrowska.
Paula Redway, director of Salisbury Arts Centre, added: “We are very proud to present this unique and exciting exhibition.
“It is a rare opportunity to see the diversity of styles and approaches of 14 very different artists who express their versions of themselves through multi-media, painting, photography, sculpture, conceptual installation and film.
“We hope that the audiences will find In Your Face enlightening and that it will spark more conversations and inspire more people to express their selves in future.”
The work presented in the exhibition is autobiographical, although this may not always be immediately apparent, prompting us to question the notion of what a ‘self portrait’ essentially is.
Each artist offers us a fascinating insight into how they view and present themselves, on their own terms. Sexuality is present in all pieces; in some intimate, subtle or private, others overt and political.
But the sexual orientation of the artist is merely one element of a multi-faceted collection of approaches to depicting the self. The exhibition brings together established and emerging artists, drawing from a range of disciplines illustrating the complexity and variety of contemporary practice.
What do we know of a person by looking at their face?
The exhibition title might suggest that in declaring their sexuality, these artists are pushing their Queerness ‘in your face’. In doing so, perhaps they are asking the viewer to face up to the question: it right that some people are more equal than others?
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Exhibition opening event: September 23, 2pm to 4pm
The exhibition is completely free and will be running from September 23 to November 4.
Exhibition hours: 10am to 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
