River of Self

At the moment, civilians are increasingly being arrested and prosecuted in Afghanistan as the Taliban takes control. These unfounded arrests are a violation of human rights and are asymmetrically impacting queer people and wxmen in the country. Though 16,500 people have sought refuge in the UK since August, this is just the beginning of their journey towards settled status. As a response to this situation, we hope to curate an exhibition, with your assistance, to raise funds for the Islington centre that helps refugees and migrants. The funds we raise through this art exhibition will provide resources and support for displaced Afghan refugees in the UK. 

We hope to not only make a difference in the lives of those who will be directly impacted by our fundraiser but make a positive contribution to the art world through showcasing the works of and providing compensation to upcoming artists, from queer and marginalised backgrounds

Our desire is to include around 20 artists in exhibition, prioritising BIPOC and queer femme artists, in hopes of platforming marginalised creatives who work and exist in adjacent spaces to our cause.  Ranging from photography, prints, paintings to sculptures and video art we aim to create a curated multisensory experience. An escapist fantasy. A liberated utopian plane in which people of all race, orientation and creed are free to wholly express and embody their true selves. The works exhibited are going to explore the concept of identity, demonstrating the complexity, creativity and beauty of human nature. Self-expression is still unfortunately a luxury unimaginable to so many. A "River of Self" is an exploration of how our identity blossoms even in the face of adversity and how struggle and resilience shape it.