June 4, 2025 |
Health is universally important. In fact, it’s one of the few things in this world that is. Without health, life becomes a much more trying undertaking, whether that be mentally, physically or both. And beyond that, health has a great impact on history, the course of which is altered by those who have it and those who don’t. This is particularly applicable in the case of LGBTQIA+ activism, a movement that lost many of its brightest figures to the 1980s AIDS crisis. It’s remiss, and honestly perplexing that the history of health and those fighting for it, rarely gets its flowers in the creative world. Seen as less glitzy than tales of adversity overcome on the dancefloor or through art that can move its viewers to tears, it’s a topic that flies under the radar despite its paramount importance. Studio Voltaire, a not-for-profit arts organisation located in Clapham, wants to put that to a stop.
With its new exhibition, titled It’s A Love Thing: 30 Years of LGBTQIA+ Health Advocacy, open today and running until August 17, the often-overlooked history of sexual health services in London is given its long-overdue airtime. Developed in partnership with Spectra CIC, a London-based sexual health and wellbeing organisation, the display focuses especially on collaborations between health organisations and creatives. This includes campaign posters from Spectra’s archive dating from 1987 to 2015 that feature work from crucial figures such as Sunil Gupta and Suzanne Roden as well as contemporary commissions from artists like Jesse Glazzard. These will be displayed against a wallpaper made out reproductions of other posters from the archive. Speaking on the collaboration, Spectra’s CEO Joel Robinson says, “Many of the images display LGBTQIA+ joy and boldness and we are keen to show this to the world at a time when the community faces continued and increasing hostility.”
By Suzanne Roden
Alongside paying homage to these individuals, the grassroots organisations integral to the fight for health equality for the LGBTQIA+ community – such as Naz and Terrence Higgins Trust – take centre stage. “We believe in the power of art as a tool for achieving social change, to inspire resistance, intimacy and connection,” says photographer and CEO of Naz, Parminder Sekhon. “In this political climate, where it appears gains and rights are upended and increasingly held with acute fragility, we need this reminder more than ever. This collection is a necessary reminder of the creativity and courage we have as an LGBTQIA+ community to mobilise and resist.”
The curation moves past solely informing and instead opts to promote safe sex that is free from shame, with a particular focus on dispelling myths surrounding HIV and other STIs. The headings “Fuck safely, love safely,” and “Get set for safer sex,” greet visitors from the posters plastered around the space, encouraging a discourse on sex that puts celebration at its heart.
By Sharon Wallace
The exhibition exists in the context of Tender Living, a four-year programme organised by Studio Voltaire and funded by Arts Council England and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Featuring an assortment of collaborative projects, commissions, exhibitions, creative research and events, the initiative provides Trans, non-binary and gender-questioning artists the chance to engage with the creative industries and platform their work.
Taking place in the shadow of a deeply harmful and regressive Supreme Court ruling delivered in April which will prevent Trans women from accessing certain spaces and encourage increased discrimination against the Trans community, exhibitions like this are as important as ever. Don’t miss out. Discover more here.
Photography courtesy of Studio Voltaire.
By Parminder Sekhon for Naz
