This Friday (4th November) sees the launch of a new exhibition at Ventnor Exchange that forms part of a year-long collaboration between Ventnor-based artist, Ladypat and Brighton-based artist, Boogaloo Stu.
As you might be able to tell from the photos, both artists share a love of psychedelic and surreal pop art, informed they say, “by their maverick queer sensibility”. In Queer Hearts, Ladypat and Boogaloo Stu share their eye-popping artworks and rally their local communities to celebrate queer heroes.
The pair have worked together on countless creative projects over the past 20 years, with Ladypat creating pop videos and live show visuals for Stu’s musical endeavours.
It’s fabestry
Stu’s hand-made dioramas are a transgressive playground of unearthly delights; while Ladypat deconstructs his own vector art into hand-made fuzzy-felt pieces.
With a symbiotic connection linking both artists’ work through aesthetics and digital techniques, the Queer Hearts exhibition is a logical progression for the duo; together, they have coined the entirely appropriate description fabestry (fabulous tapestry) to describe their style.
Exhibition
Queer Hearts starts with a free exhibition at Ventnor Exchange (cultural hub and home of the celebrated Ventnor Fringe) on the Isle of Wight running from 4th November until 18th December 2022.
The project then moves to Brighton’s Jubilee Library in early 2023.
Workshops for your young people
This Sunday, 6th November, between 11am and 2pm Islanders aged 14-25 are invited to take part in Queer Hearts Awards workshops at Ventnor Exchange.
They’ll need to book their place in advance, but it’s absolutely free and promises to be a relaxed, fun and creative experience.
Read more about the workshop and register to take part but heading over to the Brave Island Website.
Hugely welcome positivity
With so many people – of all ages – experiencing difficult times, this explosion of colour and positivity is hugely welcome.
Head to Ventnor Exchange (11 Church Street, Ventnor PO38 1SW) from the end of this week to see the Queer Hearts Exhibition and follow the project on Instagram to find out more.
Image: © Ben Francis
