Intimacy and Expression: Queer Threads in Art

This curated experience weaves through the personal and political, focusing on how artists explore intimacy, identity, and memory. Each stop offers a compelling look at how art can reflect and reshape our understanding of ourselves and each other.

Curated by EPIFANI

8 stops in London

1. I Don't Know What's Come Over Me

   Workplace Gallery

   Cabaniuk’s work confronts the nuances of queer identity through bold, emotive paintings. Look for the layers of brushwork that reveal the tension between joy and pain in intimacy, making it a compelling opener.

2. Tracey Emin

   Tate Modern

   Emin's exhibition is a deep dive into her raw and tender confessions over four decades. Pay attention to her use of text and familiar objects, which blurs the line between vulnerability and strength.

3. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art

   Victoria and Albert Museum

   Schiaparelli's bold designs challenge conventions, fusing fashion and art in audacious ways. The audacity in her creations mirrors the intimate themes explored in earlier exhibitions, making it a worthwhile pivot.

4. Lisson Street: Leiko Ikemura – El Jardín Nocturno

   Lisson Gallery

   Ikemura’s lush, dreamlike visions in 'El Jardín Nocturno' invite reflection on nature and memory. Her ability to evoke emotional landscapes ties back to the themes of intimacy seen in Cabaniuk and Emin.

5. Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition

   Somerset House

   This showcase of photography offers a broad view of visual storytelling, capturing moments that resonate emotionally. The stark contrast to the earlier exhibitions adds depth to your experience of intimacy in various forms.

6. The Music Is Black: A British Story

   Victoria and Albert Museum

   This exhibition highlights the intersection of music and identity, showcasing how sound informs personal narratives. It connects back to the intimate explorations of identity in previous stops, broadening the discussion.

7. PLATFORM: Simone Brewster

   Design Museum

   Brewster’s contemporary designs engage with materials and context, challenging traditional aesthetics. The emphasis on cultural heritage dovetails with the exploration of identity seen across the journey.

8. Paper Tiger Television

   Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA)

   Paper Tiger Television’s archive presents a unique blend of activism and media art, emphasising the power of collective memory. It resonates with the earlier themes of identity and expression, rounding out your experience.