One in 20 people in Newham identify as LGBTQIA+ making spaces to explore experiences through art vital, reports Neandra Etienne
Rosetta Arts’ GBTQIA+ History Month exhibition enters its final week, with viewings bookable until Thursday 21st March 2024.
Artists from the LGBTQIA+ community contributed artwork on the theme of identity, with a special call out to local residents to respond to the question, “What does it mean to be queer in Newham?”.
According to Rosetta Arts: “Recent census figures show one in 20 people in Newham aged under 35 years old identify as LGBTQIA+. Newham also has the highest proportion of trans people in the country making this a pivotal time to give local LGBTQIA+ artists a space to share their work.”
Artist Miles Coote, who leads a Queer Life Drawing Conversation workshop at Canning Town Library, submitted four oil paintings: The line of Linearity, Drag Queens Going up a Ladder, Baz Life model, Letter for Owen (Yolko Owno).
Miles told Newham Voices why it’s important to have a safe place for queer artists: “An inclusive space for the expression of visualities relating to gendered and sexual identities helps to develop more awareness of LGBTQIA+ people and to share experiences and knowledge. It can create an opportunity for us to commune and thus helps us create better artwork. It can also improve our mental health, learning and community connections.
“After visiting the exhibition “Kiss My Genders”, a queer exhibition at the Hayward gallery, in 2019, I was aware that LGBTQIA+ artists’ artworks are not collected as commercially by larger galleries and collectors. I estimated that there were less than seven art galleries representing the artists in the exhibition and 70% of the exhibited work was provided courtesy of the artists. This indicates that although there are large and international queer art festivals and events, that there is still more awareness and change needed to support queer artists in collections.”
The exhibition is open until the 21th March at Rosetta Arts, 1 Hamilton Rd, E15 3AE, UK. Viewings should be booked in advance
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queer-in-newham-an-art-exhibition-tickets-858012868587
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