As part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trangender History Month 2011 (LGBT), Southampton Solent University is presenting a two-week community-based exhibition.

‘Truth or Dare!’ aims to present a truthful and accurate 21st century representation of Southampton’s LGBT community; through the retelling of memory, anecdotes and everyday experience.

The community-based collaboration presents text-based, sculptural and photographic works in an attempt to celebrate difference and to promote inclusion, collaboration and acceptance.

Alongside full-length portraits and snippets of personal narrative, participants have been invited to donate objects that represent aspects of their gendered selves.

The exhibition is conceived and curated by Senior Lecturer in Fashion styling, Andrew Markham, who heads up the University’s Solent Stylist Research Collective.  His creative practice has seen him exhibit nationally and perform internationally in New York, Paris and San Francisco.

Markham’s research projects seek to explore contemporary notions surrounding gender identity through the use of cultural and religious iconography, clothing and makeup. He uses a combination of mediums to investigate the intricate relationships between fact and fiction, private and public.

Andrew says:
“Over the years headway has been made towards equality in many LGBT orientated areas, yet there are still barriers in the way of social, cultural, economic and political acceptance and inclusion.

“The Truth or dare! exhibition invites the city to experience an honest snap shot of the lives, memories and experiences of everyday people who identify outside of what are said to be social norms. Far from following a traditional exhibition format, this show challenges common conceptions of what it means to live in an omnisexual world.”

The free exhibition will be open to the public at the Bargate Monument Gallery, High Street, Southampton from Friday 11 to Sunday 27 February.

For opening times visit: www.aspacearts.org.uk

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community and is committed to celebrating its diversity and that of society as a whole.