Sebastian Rowlands

Fruit Loops private view brings together queer neurodiverse artists in Brighton

“Your work is very open and vulnerable…sharing these very personal experiences of coming out gave me an enlightening window into what it means to be trans, what that experience is like.”

Fruit Loops is a joint exhibition which Seb is currently showing work in until September 28th. It brings together a group of emerging neurodiverse queer artists based in Brighton, to highlight neurodiversity as a topic which is under-acknowledged within the LGBT+ community, and to celebrate it.

The private view on 17th August brought together queer and neurodiverse community members and allies, for dialogue and connection.

Several people stand in a room of artworks hanging on the walls behind them. In the foreground, Seb, with shoulder length hair, talks to someone with partially shaved hair and holding a drink.
Seb (left) discusses shared non binary experiences with a fellow enby.

For Seb, inclusion of their work in this show is about finding connection with trans and non binary audiences around shared experiences of coming out. But more than that, the validation of those nuanced and layered perspectives around gender affirmation specific to being non binary and neurodiverse. Building understanding and awareness of these themes amongst non-trans audiences is also an important part of making this work accessible.

“[‘Friendly Advice’] really hit home for me. I’ve had that said to me…and using sewing is a very feminised thing…being called male as a non binary person just adds that extra layer.”

Seb's textile artwork, a skirt with embroidered words on it, hangs on a wall with three abstract paintings.
‘I don’t want your masculinity either’
‘Some important news’
The artwork 'Friendly Advice' is shown as a circular embroidery hoop of linen. On it are embroidered in red and brown thread "Can't you just be male IN YOUR HEAD and not change your body".
‘Friendly Advice’

The exhibition is spear-headed and curated by local artist and curator Danny Good, in collaboration with Brighton’s LGBT+ community space, the Ledward Centre.

Featured work from the other exhibiting artists includes a live projection and abstract paintings from Aoife Baxendale, Laine Dunne’s digital collages, paintings from Krisas Daubaras, sculptures from Danny Good, and many joint works with celebrated artist Mungo Austin.

By providing this platform, the Ledward Centre and Danny Good hope to draw attention to the way neurodiverse people are often marginalised within the LGBT+ community, and face a double marginalisation within broader society for also being queer. The exhibition brings a celebratory tone, but also allows space for nuanced and darker aspects of those lived experiences.

Sparking new discussions at the private view.

Fruit Loops is the kickstarter to a series of recurrent exhibitions which the Ledward Centre hopes to hold over coming summers in Brighton, which will centre under-discussed topics, like aging and disability, within the queer community around the pride season.

Works in the exhibition can be viewed throughout September 2023.

Fruit Loops runs 17th August – 28th September 2023 inclusive at the Ledward Centre, Brighton (10 – 6 Mon-Sat, 10 – 4 Sun) in the downstairs exhibition space.