A new group exhibition titled Flare Up is showcasing art powered by illness, chronic conditions, disability, neurodivergence and deafness. Co-curated by Mariana Lemos and Natasha Hoare, the show challenges the perception of illness as static, instead highlighting the ebb and flow of symptoms. 'A flare brings light to things that have been kept in the dark, ignored or invisible-ised,' Hoare explained.
The exhibition features works from artists who do and do not identify as 'crip'—a defiant reclaiming of derogatory slang. Among the pieces is French artist Benoît Piéron's pastel bunting made from hospital sheets, which crisscrosses a ceiling before pooling on the floor. Other works address near-death experiences, religion's obsession with purity, 'crip' memes, and the tyranny of government paperwork faced by those unable to work.
Water appears as a recurring motif, from healing baths to marine pollution. Avril Corroon's installation uses water collected from dehumidifiers in damp, mould-blighted homes in Dublin and south-east London, exploring how poverty impacts health. Derek Jarman's 1992 painting Act Up, a call to arms against Aids prejudice, is also on display.
The curators note that the pandemic has driven greater interest in living with illness or disability. 'We've all realised our vulnerability, and it's really highlighted that pressure in capitalist society to have a productive body,' Hoare said. The show also addresses increasing attacks on disabled people, from benefit cuts to verbal abuse.
A 40-minute video by the Freestylers collective, titled Honey, You Are Art, features disabled and neurodivergent performers turning their challenges into creative drivers. The exhibition runs until 14 April at the gallery in London.
