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Resistance through Existence
What should have been a bold, visible moment for queer and trans art in the civic heart of Liverpool at St George’s Hall has instead become a stark reminder of the ongoing censorship of queer bodies in public space.
Ben Youdan’s mixed-media installation Resistance through Existence was commissioned for the Queer Places Heritage Trail, and was to be shown alongside the exhibition Pride is a Trans‑Led Protest, co-curated by Connie Frankish and Gary Needham, which sets out to place trans lives, activism, joy and history at the centre of Liverpool’s cultural identity.
However, days before the public launch, Homotopia made the difficult decision to withdraw the exhibition from the venue over concerns that several artworks would be subject to censorship.
Ben’s piece amplifies queer and trans icons, hidden spaces of community and resistance, and the vibrant creativity that so often goes unseen. It refuses invisibility and claims space - yet here it stands, un-displayed, in plain view of a decision that says: ‘queer bodies are too explicit’.
We are working hard to find a new home for Resistance through Existence, because the work must be seen. The story must be told. And censorship must not be the last word.
Stay tuned for updates on when and where the artwork will next be on view.
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If These Walls Could Talk: Ben Youdan. Produced for the Queer Places Heritage Trail as part of Homotopia Festival 2025, by Alessia Naccari.
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Meet the Artists...
Ben Youdan (He/Him)
Ben Youdan is a visual artist based in Liverpool, U.K. His mixed media work employs a wide variety of techniques and processes including collage, drawing, painting, printmaking and photography, to create imagery that takes inspiration from the iconography and ephemera of popular culture as well as his lived experience. His pieces explore themes such as identity, glamour and sexuality in an unapologetically Queer fashion.
www.benyoudanart.com or @benyoudanart on Instagram
Alessia Naccari (She/Her)
Alessia is a Liverpool-based film maker and storyteller whose work celebrates queer identities and visibility. She is the co-founder of Lavender Nights, curating safe spaces and events for the FLINTA community. She has recently been nominated for an Iris Prize Award for her short film, ‘Sappho Girls’.
@alessiajadee on Instagram
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