GFEST 2017 visual arts exhibition : Arts Protest

GFEST 2017 visual artists explore the theme of “Arts Protest” LGBTQI identities and articulation in their works.

10th anniversary GFEST – Gaywise FESTival ® 2017.  London’s annual “All Arts, All Welcome” GFEST films, performances, visual art exhibition and debate invite you to share awesome LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) stories from all over the world. Organised by arts charity Wise Thoughts, #GFEST2017 #ArtsProtest events will be running from Mon 13 Nov to Sat 25 Nov.in venues across London

“Arts Protest” GFEST 2017 visual arts exhibition GFEST 2017 visual artists explore the theme of “Arts Protest” LGBTQI identities and articulation in their works.

Presenting artwork by Alice Boland-Rhodes, Gokhan Tanriover, Heather Carol, Jason Carr, Marta Kochanek, Mike Bliss, Peter A Leigh, Reggie Blennerhassett, Sarah Jane Moon and Simon Croft.

Past GFEST artists, performers and filmmakers over the last 10 years present a “Wall of Protest” – selfies or portraits of some participants from the year 2007 onwards. Curated by GFEST artistic director Niranjan Kamatkar.

Alice Boland-Rhodes visualises 50 Hugs, an artist’s video installation about physical contact and how the brain changes during the process of hugging.

Gökhan Tanr?över explores contrasting images of mirrors in Confessionals, a series of analogue still-life photographs rooted in autobiographical memory to gain a deeper self-knowledge. GFEST 2014 artist.

Heather Carol’s Myth to modern life: history repeats and The Tangled Web offer offbeat interpretation of inner spaces, in a distinctively ‘natural’ way.

Jason Carr’s figurative oil paintings Black Rabbit (meet me in the woods) and Goodnight my darkest friend look at bolder contours of the identity politics and add  a twist to what it means to protest.  GFEST 2016 artist.

Marta Kochanek’s ‘Same-sex love’ photographic images celebrate aspects of people searching for attraction and attention, sex and lust, deep union and physical intimacy. GFEST 2013 artist.

Mike Bliss presents HoMo Canvas and Stop as an expression of OUT & Proud loud pop art. GFEST 2007 artist.

Peter A Leigh’s The Black Shirt highlights the rising movements of inequality appearing in Europe and America, a comparison of the black shirt as a fetish fashion and ‘the rise of the black-shirts’.

Reggie Blennerhassett’s Photo essays tell a ‘behind the scenes’ story about Miners joining hands with LGBTQI people to defeat discrimination- a campaign that inspired film Pride – A celebration of the 50^th anniversary of partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.

Sarah Jane Moon shows her recent portraits of path-breaking people who identify as lesbian and / or queer. GFEST 2016 artist.

Simon Croft reflect upon peaceful protests in which people have used flowers as symbols. Leaving Marks – metal sheets and paper floral works include ‘petals’ from multiple trees, reflecting the different ways we as LGBTQI people live our lives. GFEST 2010, 2013 and 2016 artist.

Past GFEST artists, performers and filmmakers over the last 10 years present a “Wall of Protest” – selfies or portraits of some participants from the year 2007 onwards. Curated by GFEST artistic director Niranjan Kamatkar.