8th GFEST – Gaywise FESTival 2015

8th GFEST – Gaywise FESTival ® 2015

Another edition of the  GFEST visual art exhibition returns to Menier Gallery to present South Asian LGBTQI identities under the title ASIAN FUTURE.

Challenging perceptions of Asian LGBTQI identities, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into a world where gender, sexuality and religion are defiant bedfellows.

ASIAN FUTURE will feature new work by legendary artist, writer and activist Sunil Gupta, renowned for his honest portrayal of gay life around the world, including his native India where practicing homosexuality is essentially illegal.

Charan Singh, a visual artist informed by years of community activism and HIV/AIDS work in India. A Delhi native, he’s currently taking a PhD in photography at London’s Royal College of Art.

Manchester-based interactive artist Maya Chowdhry, in collaboration with poet Sarah Hymas, presents poetic sculptures that explore the fragility of life and anthropogenic climate change.These works are guest curated by Michael Petry.

Another guest curator Simon Tarrant presents work by two London-based artists whose work contemplates gendered South Asian queer identity.

Raju Rage combines film installation with image collage to question gender, sexuality and religion. Trained as a weaver, Raisa Kabir questions the politics of dress in connection to space, gender, race and sexuality.

Art critic Anna McNay will chair a debate (free entry, booking advised) on SEXUALITY AND SOUTH ASIAN IDENTITIES at Menier Gallery on the afternoon of 14 November.