USW students celebrate LGBT+ History Month with art exhibition

Students at the University of South Wales (USW) have helped put together an art exhibition to mark LGBT+ History Month.

Taking place at USW’s Cardiff Campus from tomorrow (Thursday 24 February), the exhibition includes artwork, photographs and creative writing that describes what LGBT+ History Month means to the students.

Among those involved in the exhibition is Sophie Lauren, who is studying BA (Hons) Illustration.

Sophie said: “The inspiration for my work is women loving women, lesbian couples being in love, and the happiness, love and fulfilment I have in my own relationship.

“I wanted to get involved in this project because I’m a member of the LGBT+ community and I adore seeing same sex / other identifying couples being themselves and showing their true colours.

“It’s important for future generations to know and learn about LGBT+, and this exhibition is a great way to share our stories.”

Raven Gough, a third year BA (Hons) Photography student, is also taking part. Her project, entitled Have you seen this Unicorn? explores the peculiar linguistic relationship that people in the UK have with the word unicorn, and how it relates to marginalised identities.

She said: “The term unicorn crops up in politics, sexuality, religion, and gender, and can trace its roots back to early discoveries of the rhino, drawing interesting parallels with colonialism and the extraction of resources from disadvantaged nations.

“As a bisexual and transgender woman, the language of unicorns when applied to LGBT+ people can often be dehumanising, painting us as trophies to be hunted and collected, but there is also power in the unicorn as a mythical creature. My work sits within this conflict of queer power through self-actualisation and the dehumanising treatment in politics and cis-heteronormative society. 

“The queer community is woefully underrepresented in image-based media, and there is a need for more queer and PoC (people of colour) voices in the creative industries.”

MA Film (Screenwriting) student Dylan Thompson is displaying his script, entitled GayDay.

He said: “The meaning behind the script is to discuss the dangers LGBT+ people face on online dating, especially young people who are exploring their sexuality. Predatory behaviour is extremely common on these apps, but in the gay community, I find that many people are desensitised to these behaviours and people, because they’ve always been a part of their dating experience, which is terrifying to me. It isn’t talked about enough, and something should be done about it. GayDay hopes to raise awareness of this situation and make anyone who has been through these experiences know that they are not alone. 

“I wanted to display the script as part of the exhibition as it is very different to the other pieces that will be shown, and will serve as a reminder that art comes in many forms. Words are art. To be part of this event is extremely humbling and exciting, and I’m so proud to have my art shown at a queer celebration, and to see all of the other artwork shown.

“As a member of the LGBT+ community myself, this makes me feel like I’m not alone and reminds me that there’s nothing wrong with my sexuality, despite what my upbringing and personal experiences may have taught me.”

BA (Hons) Photography student Paris Tankard is sharing some of his final year project work, a documentary series entitled Come as we are (not as they want us).

He said: “The project aims to share the lives and experiences of queer people of colour from across the UK. I want to share this at the exhibition because I want as wide an audience as possible to see the work and read the stories that people have shared with me. It’s important to share the positives and negatives of LGBT+ life.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Atrium building, Cardiff Campus until Monday 28 February.

Find out more about how USW is celebrating LGBT+ History Month