How do you depict homelessness in art? The Crisis Commission, an exhibition currently on at Somerset House raise awareness and money for the homeless, combines the work of well-known and homeless artists exploring the feelings of loss, isolation and security.
This video, which goes behind the scenes at the exhibition’s opening, shows artists Tracey Emin, Jonathan Yeo, Nathan Coley and Yinka Shonibare discuss their work and the motivations behind working with crisis.
Also interviewed are the homeless people and volunteers who work with Crisis Skylight art activities, including Crisis volunteer Craig O’Keefe, the subject of Turner Prize-winner Gillian Wearing’s bonze statue which stands in the first room of the exhibition. How does it feel to be at the centre of such a work? “It’s pretty amazing, I’m still in shock. I’ve never seen anything like it before”, O’Keefe says.
You can watch the video below.
Read our review of The Crisis Commission and an interview with the artists here.