Queer Spaces: London 1980s - today


Moving exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery looking at the history of LGBTQ+ spaces in London from their growth in the 1980s to the current threats from developers.

This was a small show but tightly packed with stories told through ephemera. It was a bit wordy and it took me while to slow down to read the long but interesting descriptions of the different clubs, cafes and community spaces.

There were sections on the City of Quebec originally associated with gay Second World War airmen returning from war and the wonderfully named Women’s Anarchist Nuisance Café. I was fascinated by the story of the Joiners’ Arms, a gay pub which closed in 2015. The flag shown here flew outside it. It was closed due to a redevelopment of the area however Tower Hamlets has insisted that the developers grant a 25 year lease to an LGBTQ+ venue and contribute to the fit out costs.

The show also included some contemporary art works my favourite of which was a board of leaflets collected by Hannah Quinian and Rosie Hastings as part of the their project, tthe UK Gay Bar Directory, a plan to record and collect ephemera from LGBTQ+ venues.

Closes on 25 August 2019

Review
Evening Standard


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