Curating Elsewhere

Image courtesy of Max Reeves

What do we gain when we think about elsewhere – and what do we learn about here?

I curated an exhibition Elsewhere, which was on show from May - September 2023 at Bethlem Gallery. The exhibition interrogated the idea of public space – how we can use creativity to move beyond closed and restricted spaces to spaces of radical openness. The exhibiting works were playful, highly personal and political. The artists interrogated the notion of power and control over public space – from a queer utopia built in collaboration with a childhood friend to a pastoral folk vision of a hoped-for future, where land is not owned by a privileged few but is freely accessible to everyone.

Exhibiting artists from Bethlem Gallery include, Corinne, Eddie, Max Reeves, and Sue Morgan. Baba (also known as Professero Babalascar) will also be taking part in a digital residency. They are joined by artists from Turf Projects, Croydon; Daisy Young, Hoagy Houghton and Pear Nuallak.

Photos courtesy of Ben McDade and Bethlem Gallery. Exhibition funded by Arts Council England and Maudsley Charity, in collaboration with Turf Studios and South London and Maudsley Trust.