Flare Up, a group exhibition co-curated by Mariana Lemos and Natasha Hoare at CCA Goldsmiths in London, showcases art centered on illness, chronic conditions, disability, neurodivergence, and deafness. The show features works by artists including Benoît Piéron, Avril Corroon, Derek Jarman, Christine Sun Kim, Jesse Darling, and the collective Freestylers, exploring themes such as near-death experiences, crip memes, government bureaucracy, and the fluctuating nature of symptoms. Highlights include Piéron's bunting made from hospital sheets, Corroon's installation on poverty and health, and Jarman's 1992 painting Act Up.
The exhibition matters because it brings visibility to disabled and chronically ill artists at a time when attacks on disabled people are increasing, from benefit cuts to verbal abuse. The curators note that the pandemic has heightened awareness of vulnerability and societal pressure to be productive, challenging pejorative narratives that disabled communities lack social value. By featuring artists whose work has been recognized by major institutions like the Whitney Museum and the Turner Prize, Flare Up asserts that illness and disability can be powerful drivers of creativity and cultural commentary.