In dedication presented by We Exist

About

Two years and three lockdowns in the making, We Exist are excited to announce their first IRL art and performance exhibition In Dedication in collaboration with The Koppel Project.

In Dedication is an exhibition dedicated to We Exist co-founder Sophie Gwen Williams and her vision.  
 

The exhibition includes new and existing work by 28 trans and non-binary artists in devotion to memory, community, the body, history, ancestors, desire, longing, a future, ritual, healing, liberation, resistance, love and to ourselves.
 

These acts of dedication are told through moving-image, sound, photography, painting installation and performance. Running alongside the exhibition there will be screenings of artists’ moving image at the satellite venue VSSL Studio on June 3rd 6-9pm, and performances event on June 10th 6-9pm.
 

In November 2020, We Exist were invited by The Koppel Project Campus to stage a takeover of the old Central Saint Martins building in Holborn, inviting 40 trans and non-binary UK based artists to take part in a freeform two-month long residency program. 

The upcoming exhibition is a continuation of this project, featuring new work across disciplines by 16 returning residency artists, and 12 additional artists from the UK and abroad. Both the exhibition and two-week residency at The Koppel Project are supported by We Exist partners Body Movements, Dalston Superstore and Hard + Shiny.

The exhibition is curated by Iarlaith Ni Fheorais and five curatorial mentees Delia Detritus, Saati McCormack, Caz Ortoli, Puer Deorum and Willow Killeen. Alongside curating the exhibition this group of exhibiting artists will be developing curatorial knowledge over five sessions in fundraising, marketing, exhibition design and installation. 

Developed over two residencies at The Koppel Project in November 2020 and May 2022, and with the support of Arts Council England.

ABOUT WE EXIST

We Exist is a London-based arts organisation headed by a collective of formidable trans creatives and community organisers, established to provide emergency support for the LGBTQI+ community across the UK. Founded in 2020 by multidisciplinary artist and activist Sophie Gwen Williams, community organiser and club promoter Jo Alloway and artist and community organiser June Lam, We Exist is both a healthcare fund providing tangible support to trans folks in the UK in crisis, and an innovative trans led creative arts organisation with a focus on community engagement and events programming.