THIS IS WHERE I LIVE - A Global Arts Project For the Homeless and Disadvantaged

Paintings from twelve artists from New York, Berlin and Mumbai join four from London at Diorama Arts Centre as part of Cafe Art's international art exhibition exchange THIS IS WHERE I LIVE from Friday 7 April until mid May.

The exhibition is being held in all four cities, with paintings from each city being exhibited in each city.

The four London artists are David Tovey, Tom Hair, Tendekai and James Gray.

In the army for many years, followed by a job as a chef, David Tovey ended up homeless because of health issues in 2011 and lost his job and home. He participated in the 2014 and 2015 MyLondon photography project by Café Art, winning the People’s Choice award in 2015. He was the first artist in residence in Diorama Arts Centre in 2016 where he organized the One Festival for homeless artists and performers in 2016. In April 2017 he exhibits in the Tate Modern art gallery in London with the Museum of Homelessness.

James Grey joined the Passage Day Centre art therapy group when he was still sleeping rough. ‘I started off when I was homeless. James, who came to London in the late 1980s from East Kilbride in Scotland, says that The Passage referred him to Wytham Hall hostel, where he lived in Maida Vale, London until moving into an apartment of his own in 2016.

THIS IS WHERE I LIVE started in 2013, and has grown from the original exchange with fresh art in New York, which resulted in memorable videos from New York to London connecting them with the London artists who replied with their own video to New York.

fresh art creates artistic and personal development opportunities for disadvantaged and underserved adults in New York City through fine art exhibitions and workshops. The organization raises public awareness and recognition of these artists' work and talents by building partnerships with social service agencies, residences and community groups. fresh art is dedicated to promoting art as a tool for personal expression, creative growth and positive transformation.

Berlin's Gitschiner 15 joined the project in November 2015. It is the first year for Pehchan in Mumbai.

Art despite poverty is the motto for Gitschiner 15. They provide cultural and health services for the lowincome and homeless in Berlin, and have a thriving art group.

It is the first year for Pehchan in Mumbai. Pehchan is a community-based NGO that helps homeless citizens in Mumbai build a life of dignity and fulfillment. The word ‘pehchan’ in Hindi translates as “identity”.

Each organisation has sent four paintings to the other three and exhibitions are being held in all four cities in April and May. The idea behind it is to have fun, make connections and have paintings exhibited in major cities. The issue of homelessness is international and by talking about it Cafe Art hopes to draw attention to the issue in a creative way. 

Like the other projects run by Cafe Art, from the first art calendar, called ONE, which united artists from 12 different homelessness charity art groups in London, to the annual MyLondon photography project, the goals are to empower people through creativity.

London: Diorama Arts Centre, Regent's Place, 201 Drummond St, London NW1 3FE Fri 7th April - Sun 14th May 2017 (closest tube stations Warren Street and Euston)

Berlin: Social- and Cultural Center/Alcohol-free Café, Gitschiner 15, Gitschiner Straße 15, 10969 Berlin Wed 12th Apr - Wed 31st May 2017

New York: St Margaret’s House, 49 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038, USA Mon 3rd Apr - Wed 31st May 2017

Mumbai: Various Colleges and Universities in Mumbai, India Mon 3rd April - Sun 30th April 2017

For more information, or to arrange interviews with the London artists or for international exhibition contacts email info@cafeart.org.uk or paul@cafeart.org.uk