Filter

WINK WINK

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

WINK WINK

An exhibition celebrating queer lived experience.

Curated by Garth Gratrix

The artists include Harold Offeh, Ro Robertson, SHARP, Topher Campbell, Chester Tenneson, Jez Dolan, Derek Jarman, Rene Matić, Helen Cammock, Daniel Fountain, Sarah-Joy Ford, Garth Gratrix, Jenkin van Zyl, Trackie McLeod, Harry Clayton-Wright, Jacob Talkowski, Parham Ghalamdar, Sunil Gupta, Lothar Götz, Ally Rosenberg, Will Hughes, Rafal Zajko, Stuart Semple and Jonathan Baldock.

WINK WINK playfully hosts a space to navigate these thoughts and experience other lives we may not see or be in allyship with regularly. Sculpture, drawing, mixed media, textile and film are installed through The Whitaker engaging us with work that represents and abstracts identity.

Visitors can explore and follow what they are drawn to, curious by, and stumble across. It isn’t telling you anything, it simply invites you to cruise and world differently for a moment. Let us flirt with how else we may do things tomorrow.

View the brochure for the exhibition.

Join us for a guided tour of the exhibition on Saturday 17 June.

Dates
Thursday 18th May 2023 – Sunday 23rd July 2023
Tickets
Opening event: Thursday 18th May 7pm

Free, no need to book.

This event is supported by the Arts Council England

WINK WINK is inspired by an article titled ‘Appearing Differently; Abstraction, Transgressions and Capacities‘ an article by critics David Getsy and William J Simmons.

In this, they explored the idea of ‘worlding differently’, in the context of queer lived experience and art making. Queerness can allow us to harness a myriad of experiences – familiar or unfamiliar to us. It refuses a binary definition in favour of embracing nuance subversion and expression in a variety of forms. Its perceived deviance could perhaps be acknowledged as longer-term experimentation and development.

Where are we going, what is the change we want to see in the world? It’s about not waiting for inclusion, in favour of taking up space and sharing space more widely. Can queerness act as a better kaleidoscope to look at life through than the notion of normality?

Image Credits:

SHARP, Title: BEACON (without words I found myself home on our stomping ground) (2022). Image by Arlo Lawton;
Trackie McLeod, Title: MILK LEMONADE CHOCOLATE (2022), Neon light, acrylic box;
Harry Clayton Wright, Title: Mr Blackpool (2023). Image by Matt Crockett, Make up by Guy Common, Costume Design by Ryan Dawson Laight;
Stuart Semple, Title: DIRTY NUMB ANGEL BOY (after underworld) (2022);
Jonathan Baldock, Title: Maske LXXX (2020). Credits: Copyright Jonathan Baldock. Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London. Photo by Todd-White Art Photography.
Helen Cammock, Title: Concrete Feathers Porcelain Tacks (2021) Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London

Additional notes:

Recommended age group is for guidance only if you have any questions on suitability please speak to one of our team members or email learning@thewhitaker.org
All activities are fully inclusive, please contact our team on learning@thewhitaker.org if you have any specific questions on accessibility
Unless otherwise stated, for family workshops you only need to book a ticket for each child attending. Accompanying adult is free

Activities can be booked via our website or by visiting our Welcome Desk
Whilst some activities are offered free due to our current funding from ACE and HLF, we have introduced ‘pay what you can’ for some events with a suggested donation. We appreciate donations to ensure we can keep activities running in the future
Our events cancellation policy can be accessed here.

What's On

Activities at The Whitaker

Fantastical Field Notes: Map & Trail

This is a permanent event

Activities at The Whitaker

Early Years Studio: Spring 2023

This is a permanent event

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Chandelier of Illuminated Objects

This is a permanent event

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibition

This is a permanent event

Find Out More

Schools

School visit to our museum

Friday 1st January 2021 – Sunday 31st December 2023

Extended until 2023.

Register Your Interest

Activities at The Whitaker

Pop-Up Handling Sessions

This is a permanent event

Free Entry

Guided Tour of the Museum

This is a permanent event

Films at The Whitaker

Films at The Whitaker: All The Beauty And The Bloodshed

Thursday 15th June 2023

Ticketed

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

WINK WINK: Guided Tour and Discussion

Saturday 17th June 2023

Ticketed

Activities at The Whitaker

WINK WINK: Dictionary of Lesbian Symbols Workshop

Saturday 17th June 2023

Ticketed

Activities at The Whitaker

Create with Caroline: Book Binding

Thursday 22nd June 2023

Ticketed

Films at The Whitaker

Films at The Whitaker: Tár

Thursday 22nd June 2023

Ticketed

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Artists Support Day

Thursday 29th June 2023

Ticketed

Activities at The Whitaker

Bringing Out Hidden Histories

Thursday 29th June 2023

Ticketed

Activities at The Whitaker

Family Antics at the Museum

Saturday 1st July 2023

Ticketed

Films at The Whitaker

Films at The Whitaker: Aftersun

Thursday 6th July 2023

Ticketed

Films at The Whitaker

Films at The Whitaker: The Green Ray

Thursday 20th July 2023

Ticketed

Activities at The Whitaker

Beginning to Write with Sara Sherwood

Saturday 22nd July 2023

Ticketed

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

WINK WINK: Closing Event

Sunday 23rd July 2023

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Helen Angell, Harriet Mena Hill and Mandy Payne: Travels Through The Valley of Stone

Thursday 27th July 2023 – Sunday 24th September 2023