Sophia Emmerich and Lisa Kempke's visual essay on the importance of Queer Platonic relationships continues on its world tour.
At the end of 2022, we were lucky enough to host the launch event for Emmerich and Kempke's Queer Platonic exhibition in London. Along with the showcasing of the images in London for the first time, this represented an opportunity for people who are part of the We Create Space community to network and socialise, and enjoy each other's company.
In February of 2023, the Queer Platonic exhibition returns to Locke Hotels in London. And we're just such big fans of this project that we wanted to take the opportunity to remind you to go and see it while you can!
About the project.
Over the course of 18 months, photographer Sophia Emmerich (who is part of the We Create Space Collective) collaborated with Lisa Kempke to capture the power and importance of Queer Platonic Relationships.
This project stimulated a lot of internal conversation within the team at We Create Space, where we thought about how perceptions of LGBTQIA+ people in wider society means the idea that we have platonic friends who also belong to the community, is almost totally ignored.
There is a lot of power in queer friendships, as people who have similar experiences to yourself when it comes to more difficult times, as well as learning from people who are different. One thing that cannot be mistaken is the importance of Queer Platonic relationships is the idea of "Chosen Family" - an idea that a lot of us are now familiar with.
Why is this important? As Emmerich and Kempke say, many queer people can experience exclusion not just from the outside, but also their inner circle - from their family. "Chosen Family" is especially vital for those who don't have the support, or don't feel able to be fully open with those who are closest to them, as it allows them to feel a sense of belonging with people who have also been subject to the same exclusion.
This project goes some way in dispelling the misconceptions that the entirety of queer people's relationships and identity are based around intimacy and sex, and this is why we are so happy that we could support this project and its creators. Emmerich and Kempke will continue to add to this project over time.
Asking Lisa Kempke about the deeper significance behind the project, this is what she had to say:
"When we see queer narratives portrayed in the media, there are three main topics: love, sex and discrimination. With our series, our goal was to show that queer life is – obviously – more nuanced than that. We also felt that the platonic relationships within queer circles held a different value and importance that needed to be highlighted. We wanted to translate our own experience as queer people that bonded deeply with other queers into a series that captures this wonderful feeling of security and support."
You can find out more about the project by visiting this website.
Queer Platonic is on display now at Bermonds Locke - 157 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 3LW
Members of the WCS Collective who took part in the project.
We are really proud to say that as well as hosting the launch of the exhibition in London, that some of our very own Queer Leaders were captured as part of this visual essay. From Left to Right:
Yaz Senghor and her friend Alisha
Char Bailey and her friend Rico Jacob Chace
Tatum Karmen Swithenbank and their friend Anick Soni
Would you like to book any of these speakers for a webinar or panel event hosted by us? For more information, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co
About the launch event.
At the end of 2022, we were lucky enough to host the launch event for The Queer Platonic exhibition in London. Along with the showcasing of the images in London for the first time, this represented an opportunity for people who are part of the We Create Space community to network and socialise, and enjoy each other's company. This was one of our most popular community events to date, and we can't wait to host something in London again soon!
For now though, make sure to check our upcoming in-person events, and sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date
While you're here...
Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here.
We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!