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Past Exhibition
Curated by Mark Sealy
Autograph
Rivington Place
London EC3A 3BA, UK
Placing himself at the centre of his work, Sharif Persaud explores identity through his experience of contemporary life and autism. He is a part of the collective of neurodiverse artists and activists at Project Art Works, who have been shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2021.
Persaud is profoundly interested in his body in society as a site of investigation: sneezing, healthcare, hospitals, gangrene, cities, flats, benefits and his independence. Persaud questions his audience about their experiences and body - have you ever had? This was Persaud's first solo exhibition, featuring his drawings, large paintings and award-winning short film The Mask.
Have You Ever Had was the culmination of the UK-wide EXPLORERS Project, highlighting the extraordinary contribution neurodiverse people make to art and culture.
Set against a backdrop of increased hardship and marginalisation of vulnerable people, the EXPLORERS Project was informed and led by neurodiverse communities. This exhibition developed from our long partnership with Project Art Works and Autograph's participation in EXPLORERS.
Have You Ever Had exhibition at Autograph
Self Portrait, 2018
Have You Ever Had exhibition at Autograph
Egypt, 2016
Film still from The Mask
Holby City, 2014
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Untitled, 2017
Self Portrait, 2015
is an artist based in Hastings. His practice has been developed in collaboration with Project Art Works, where he has been a key contributor.
He wrote and directed The Mask (2017) an Ignition Random Acts Network Centre Commissioned film. The Mask won Best Story at the Oska Bright Film Festival in 2017, and has been shown at screenings across the world including FilmBath UK, the Other Film Festival in Melbourne, Electric Palace in Hastings, and the Discover Film Awards festival in London. It has also featured in a British Film Institute Collection Disabled Britain on Film. His work has featured in group exhibitions including In The Realm of Others (2015) at De La Warr Pavilion and Putting Ourselves in the Picture (2019) at Fabrica. He was a finalist for the 2020 Spectrum Art Award, and the collective he is a member of at Project Art Works have been shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2021.
You can see more of Persaud's work on the Project Art Works website.
26 Feb 2020
To launch the exhibition when it opened in 2020 (before temporarily closing due to Covid-19), we held our first relaxed launch event.
27 Feb 2020
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the opening night of Have You Ever Had.
12 Aug 2021 - Online event
How can collective approaches support the artistic practices of neurodiverse people?
Before temporarily closing due to Covid-19, every Wednesday was relaxed hours - for all visitors who prefer a quieter environment.
Read more 
Historically, the art world has not recognised or valued the work of neurodivergent artists. In a new text, Sonia Boué considers the ways in which Have You Ever Had contributes to a dismantling of intellectual ableism.
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Part of the EXPLORERS project, delivered by Project Art Works, a three-year programme of art and conversation working with 12 national art organisations. The EXPLORERS programme was informed and led by neurodiverse communities, placing them at the heart of social, civic and cultural activity.
Autograph would like to acknowledge the generous support of this exhibition from the family of Peter Clack, a former trustee of Autograph.
Banner image: Sharif Persaud, Self Portrait [detail], 2015. Courtesy of the artist and Project Art Works.
Page images from top, left to right: 1) Sharif Persaud, Have You Ever Had exhibition at Autograph. Curated by Mark Sealy. Photograph courtesy Zoë Maxwell. 2) Sharif Persaud, Self Portrait, 2015. Courtesy of the artist and Project Art Works. 3) Sharif Persaud, Egypt, 2016. Courtesy of the artist and Project Art Works. 4) Sharif Persaud, Holby City [detail], 2014. Courtesy of the artist and Project Art Works. 5) Sharif Persaud, Have You Ever Had exhibition at Autograph. Curated by Mark Sealy. Photograph courtesy Zoë Maxwell. 6) Sharif Persaud, Self Portrait, 2015. Courtesy of the artist and Project Art Works. 7) Sharif Persaud, Have You Ever Had exhibition at Autograph. Curated by Mark Sealy. Photograph courtesy Zoë Maxwell.
Other page images: 8)Sharif Persaud in the studio at Project Art Works. Courtesy Project Art Works. 9) Sharif Persaud, Have You Ever Had exhibition poster. 10) Sharif Persaud postcard pack. 11) Rivington Place, home of Autograph. Photograph by Zoë Maxwell.
Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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