An art exhibition is raising vital funds for LGBTQ+ people who are persecuted across parts of the world where being gay is illegal.

Founded by Artiq in 2018, the Queer Frontiers exhibition is being hosted at Walker’s Court in Soho, London.

LGBTQ+ artists and allies have come together to showcase work which explores the theme of ‘Queer Myths and Queer Futures’.

It is the first time the exhibition has explored a theme of how art can reshape the past, challenge the present or envision a new future for the queer community.

Patrick McCrae, CEO and co-founder of Artiq and Queer Frontiers, told Metro.co.uk the inspiration behind the event was to give back to the community.

Mr McCrae said Rainbow Railroad was chosen specifically to reflect the theme of the exhibition too.

‘There’s a huge disparity across the world when it comes to the rights of LGBTQ+ people,’ he said.

Pride Month 2023

Pride Month is here, with members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies celebrating their identities, accomplishments, and reflecting on the struggle for equality throughout June.

This year, Metro.co.uk is exploring the theme of family, and what it means to the LGBTQ+ community.

Find our daily highlights below, and for our latest LGBTQ+coverage, visit our dedicated Pride page.

• Map shows London Pride parade 2023 route and best places to stand
• 5 things you (probably) don’t know about the ‘world’s largest sexual minority’
• New rainbow plaques will stop ‘hidden LGBTQ+ histories’ from being ‘lost forever’

Latest London news

• Map shows London Pride parade 2023 route and best places to stand
• Chaos on the Tube as swan suspends entire line
• How hot will London get in the next heatwave? Latest weather predictions

To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk’s visit Metro’s London news hub.

‘On the one hand we enjoy greater freedoms now across the western world, but the same cannot be said for parts of the Middle East, Asia, Africa and elsewhere.

‘This was why it was so important to chose a charity which really is reshaping the future of queer identity.

‘Rainbow Railroad helped over 100 gay Afghans when the Taliban took over in 2021 find refuge elsewhere.

‘There’s an increasing need for groups like this which still means there is a greater need to highlight LGBTQ+ injustice across large parts of the world.’

Mr McCrae said this year’s theme of ‘myth’ had a dual meaning which artists could interpret themselves.

He said: ‘On the one hand myth implies something mythical, magical and mysterious.

‘But on the other hand myth represents a false belief where LGBTQ+ people have been oppressed with violence for centuries because of their sexuality.

‘We really wanted this exhibition to be a platform not only for LGBTQ+ artists but to allies as well.

‘Shockingly only 6% of the arts council funded industry is represented by LGBTQ+ artists and this needs to change.

‘It’s important to note queer rights can take a step backwards, so it is important to showcase queer art when we can.’

YaYa Bones is a non-binary trans artist whose artwork is showcased at the exhibition.

As well as their artwork, they also work as a musician and put on a performance during the opening evening.

They told Metro.co.uk: ‘I love having opportunities to share my work with wider audiences and have my 2D work on show because I usually work as a sculpture.

‘Inherently my work is queer even when the work isn’t necessarily about the queerness.

‘My work exists within its own mythology, so rewriting myths and recreating myths, which is queer because before creation there was no gender so my work explores these themes.

‘Raising money for Rainbow Railroad is extremely important to me.

‘I’m half-Malaysian and being queer there is one of the top five worst countries to be queer in. I couldn’t exist as myself if I lived there.

‘I do have a dream to move back there and be with my partner but we can’t.’

Kevin Anaaf-Brown is a photographer who has work on display at the exhibition.

‘It feels really nice, as an artist it is a huge compliment to be asked to participate in something like this,’ he said.

‘I think generally in terms of queer myth and queer futures I try to show another narrative of being black and being queer.

‘That’s always a retelling of existing myths and also an imagination of a utopia where all these barriers are removed. I’m always working in a re-imagining of a previously told myth.

‘Queerness is a large concept and we know there are still aspects of queerness which are still not accepted in parts of the world.’

Over five years, Artiq has raised more than £45,000 for LGBTQ+ charities like Switchboard, Outside In and the Albert Kennedy Trust. 

All artworks are on sale for £150 between June 29 and July 4 during London Pride.

The aim is to make the art accessible for those on lower budgets, who can respond to the theme, put them up in homes and offices and come to their own conclusion about what the art represents.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Source: Read Full Article