Photograph by Jay Johnson
ICA Creatives is excited to present an ambitious takeover, where we will celebrate the work of young artists who took part in our workshops over the past nine months.
In collaboration with the Pesolife collective, participants explored a multidisciplinary approach to art-making across three terms – experimenting, questioning, and creating. Under the theme of 'Trespass', this takeover is both a showcase and a statement.
Throughout the programme, these young creatives have gained hands-on experience with professional tools, developed new skills, built meaningful connections, and engaged deeply with the intersections of art, politics, identity, and well-being.
Join us on Wednesday 2 July, for a showcase of the work curated and created entirely by the next generation of cultural voices.
Learn more about ICA Creatives x Pesolife.
WHO ARE WE?
WE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE/LOVE ART. WE ARE NOT THE ICA. WE ARE OUTSIDE OF INSTITUTIONS.
WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?
WE STAND FOR ART FOR EVERYONE. FREE ART EDUCATION AND FREE ART-MAKING FOR EVERYONE. FREE BEAUTY FOR EVERYONE. FREE JOY AND PLAY FOR EVERYONE. WE STAND FOR PALESTINE, SUDAN, CONGO, AND ALL PEOPLES CURRENTLY FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM. WE STAND FOR LIFE WITHIN/AGAINST THE DEATH CURRENTS OF APOCALYPTIC CAPITALISM.
WHY SHOULD WE MAKE ART AS YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY?
ART IS LIFE, ART IS RESISTANCE TO STRUCTURES OF VALUE/CAPITAL/LIFE/DEATH THAT TELL US WHAT/WHO GETS TO EXIST. ART CREATES WORLDS THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY EXIST BUT THAT WE WISH TO LIVE IN. ART ALLOWS US TO SPEAK IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ONES GIVEN TO US. THROUGH ART WE SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICES WE SEE. THROUGH ART WE PLAY, WE HAVE A YOUTH, WE EXPERIENCE FREEDOM AND JOY. WE HAVE THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL, WE CAN MAKE WHAT WE WANT.
WHY TRESPASS?
TRESPASS IS LAND JUSTICE. TRESPASS IS TAKING BACK WHAT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE. TRESPASS IS RISK. TRESPASS IS SHARED SPACE.
WHO ARE WE TRESPASSING WITH/FOR?
WE STAND IN GLOBAL SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHOSE MOVEMENT IS CONTROLLED/POLICED. OUR ART IS NOT EXTRACTIVE OF MOVEMENTS FOR JUSTICE. WE RESIST BORDERS.
WHAT ARE WE MAKING?
WE MAKE ART AS A FORM OF RELATION, AS A FORM OF CONNECTION. WE MAKE CONVERSATIONS, NOT LECTURES. WE MAKE ACCESS. ART IS A UNIVERSAL TOOL FOR CHANGE. ART IS POWER, NOT PERFORMANCE. EVERYONE’S WORK IS GIVEN EQUAL SPACE. PROCESS IS ART. WE CREATE FROM HONESTY. EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. THERE IS NO HIERARCHY.
WE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE/LOVE ART. WE ARE NOT THE ICA. WE ARE OUTSIDE OF INSTITUTIONS.
WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?
WE STAND FOR ART FOR EVERYONE. FREE ART EDUCATION AND FREE ART-MAKING FOR EVERYONE. FREE BEAUTY FOR EVERYONE. FREE JOY AND PLAY FOR EVERYONE. WE STAND FOR PALESTINE, SUDAN, CONGO, AND ALL PEOPLES CURRENTLY FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM. WE STAND FOR LIFE WITHIN/AGAINST THE DEATH CURRENTS OF APOCALYPTIC CAPITALISM.
WHY SHOULD WE MAKE ART AS YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY?
ART IS LIFE, ART IS RESISTANCE TO STRUCTURES OF VALUE/CAPITAL/LIFE/DEATH THAT TELL US WHAT/WHO GETS TO EXIST. ART CREATES WORLDS THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY EXIST BUT THAT WE WISH TO LIVE IN. ART ALLOWS US TO SPEAK IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ONES GIVEN TO US. THROUGH ART WE SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICES WE SEE. THROUGH ART WE PLAY, WE HAVE A YOUTH, WE EXPERIENCE FREEDOM AND JOY. WE HAVE THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL, WE CAN MAKE WHAT WE WANT.
WHY TRESPASS?
TRESPASS IS LAND JUSTICE. TRESPASS IS TAKING BACK WHAT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE. TRESPASS IS RISK. TRESPASS IS SHARED SPACE.
WHO ARE WE TRESPASSING WITH/FOR?
WE STAND IN GLOBAL SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHOSE MOVEMENT IS CONTROLLED/POLICED. OUR ART IS NOT EXTRACTIVE OF MOVEMENTS FOR JUSTICE. WE RESIST BORDERS.
WHAT ARE WE MAKING?
WE MAKE ART AS A FORM OF RELATION, AS A FORM OF CONNECTION. WE MAKE CONVERSATIONS, NOT LECTURES. WE MAKE ACCESS. ART IS A UNIVERSAL TOOL FOR CHANGE. ART IS POWER, NOT PERFORMANCE. EVERYONE’S WORK IS GIVEN EQUAL SPACE. PROCESS IS ART. WE CREATE FROM HONESTY. EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. THERE IS NO HIERARCHY.
Wednesday 2 July, 6pm
ICA Stage, Upper Gallery & Bar
This event is free to attend.
ICA Stage, Upper Gallery & Bar
This event is free to attend.
Alper Yasarta
Kevin Kimbenga
Loann Hutchinson
no. 236848.