This exhibition uncovered the histories of Lewisham’s lost gay venues that thrived from the 1970s – 90s by gathering the memories and stories of the people who created informal communities responding to social and political challenges, the AIDS crisis, and other issues that affected the LGBTQ+ in the borough.
Artwork descriptions:
The Archive Tent , Installation 2022 Kleanthis Kyriakou
“A large tent is installed inside the space to hold the archival material from the research on the lost LGBTQ+ spaces of Lewisham and the oral histories collected so far. The display inside references the Lewisham Archives and visitors will have the chance to learn more about the spaces and people that shaped Lewisham’s queer community by going though memorabilia, printed or recorded stories, and photographs found inside the archival boxes. The floor of the tent will be covered in a soft furry fabric that will allow visitors to have an intimate connection with the archive, by opening up a box and laying down to view its content- as if they are in one’s bed.” The tent itself is a testament to the nomadic nature of queer spaces in Lewisham and of London at large. Societal changes, gentrification, and the rise of online dating apps are some of the factors that led to the demise of so many LGBTQ+ spaces in recent years. The venues, or parties that do survive are often pushed out of the city centre, seeking more affordable rents at the edges of London. Therefore, the question arises: Where do we go next?It seems that WE- as queers in this city- constantly find ourselves in a state of limbo, living inside ‘imaginary tents’, waiting for a new venue to open up in order to reinstate our sense of community and allow us perform our identities with each other. Why can’t we claim a permanence in the city, that other cultural or religious groups enjoy? The rocks, that serve as weights for the installation of the tent, symbolise that need for permanence in the built environment. The tent, as an artistic statement and a provocation, responds directly to the title of the exhibition: ”Where to now the sequins are gone?”
Memorial Wreath , 2022 (birch plywood 15mm, ribbon, artificial flowers) Kleanthis Kyriakou
"The title of the exhibition: where to now the sequins have gone? is reinterpreted as a funeral wreath, inspired by East End funerary traditions. Reading the title in this format, pushes visitors to think about the loss of Lewisham’s LGBTQ+ venues, in a direct and intimate way as if they are mourning the loss of someone close to them. By commemorating and memorialising Lewisham’s lost LGBTQ+ spaces, this artwork aims to mobilise the current and future generations to take collective action against the erasure of LGBTQ+ spaces of congregation in their neighbourhoods and beyond."
A political dress , 2020 (silk fabric, spray paint, recycled dress) Kleanthis Kyriakou
In ‘A political dress’ the body itself becomes a monument. A living, breathing monument. A 5m long fuchsia silk fabric is draped around the body and hits the floor. Its purpose is to serve as a wearable protest banner, as it inscribes a message that is prevalent throughout the artist's work: ‘Save London’s Queer Spaces’. The message was graffitied on the dress as if protesters have added it during a demonstration. However, in this case it is not considered an act of vandalism but a call for action!
with special thanks to Tanya Anand.