Our first exhibition, PRESENTS, was curated by resident artist, Romily Alice Walden and COVEN collective member, Frances Breden, and includes a programme of film and video. PRESENTS, it opened on 7 Sept 2020 and ended on 1 Dec 2020.

Go to the PRESENTS exhibition archive now, or read more below about the exhibition and its content.

PRESENTS was a screening of short video works that don’t require an abled or physically present body in order to be performative. Ten sick and disabled artists come together to expand the idea of ‘performance’, presenting work that is embodied, immediate, and present without forcing bodies to conform to ableist norms of art-making.

Some works offer ways for us to dance together and feel connected to sick and queer community from our rooms. Others challenge us to radically slow down and match the pace of their words or their movements through the world. Many do not have a visual or do not have an audio component, highlighting what is present and what is absent. All of the works, when necessary, are captioned and audio described. Each work feels like a gift, giving new possibilities for accessible art-making and relating to each other.

In addition to their video work, each artist created a “score” for you to perform yourself alongside their work; the scores are invitations, instructions, challenges, and meditations that allow you to feel the presence of the artist in the room with you.

The show was curated by Romily Alice Walden (Vital Capacities artist in residence and UdK Graduate School Fellow) and Frances Breden (independent curator and member of COVEN collective).

See the PRESENTS exhibition archive to find out more.

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