Art exhibition sheds light on trans homelessness

Approximately one in four trans individuals has experienced homelessness, a rate significantly higher than the general population.

This staggering statistic provides the backdrop for a new exhibition that raises awareness of trans homelessness and health, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by trans individuals.

The exhibition, titled 'Illustrating Significance in Transitory Times', displays illustrations of significant objects that have shaped the journeys of trans homeless people, delivering a unique perspective on the intersection of trans identity, homelessness, and its impact on health.

The project is the brainchild of Steph Busby, a PhD student at Hull York Medical School. They collaborated with trans artist Berwyn Mure, and trans participants of their PhD study, to transform objects of deep personal significance into powerful illustrations.

Steph explained, “During my PhD study, trans participants were asked to bring a significant item with them in relation to their gender, their homelessness/housing experiences, or their health. Exploring the importance and the impact on their lives, it became clear that these physical possessions can be anchors during transitory times. The exhibition is a visual representation of this.”

A central focus of the exhibition is the question of how health, being trans, and experiencing homelessness are interconnected. Rather than addressing a specific healthcare challenge, the exhibition seeks to explore the complex ways in which these factors influence each other.

Illustrating universal themes

Participants in the project were asked to provide a one-word description for their chosen objects, which served as the titles for the illustrations.

This simple but powerful step allowed for a deeper understanding of the participants' perspectives and how these objects had shaped their lives.

The words provided by the participants touched universally relatable themes, such as “recognition”, “love”, “home”, and “family”.

The exhibition challenges preconceived notions about trans lives, highlighting that despite facing unique challenges and exclusion, the fundamental desires and needs of trans individuals are no different from those of the general population.

Steph explained, "The images are more than just visual representations; they carry immense emotional weight, symbolising concepts like control, ownership, and safety, which are essential for improving health outcomes.

'Home'

Noun: A refuge, a sanctuary; a place or region to which one naturally belongs or where one feels at ease.

Synonyms: Refuge - Anchor - Secure

The collaborative nature of the project allowed all participants to review and provide feedback to the artist illustrations that represented their significant objects.

They were also offered framed copies of the images, preserving the significance of these objects; something which Steph noted the participants were grateful for, particularly as some of the participants no longer had their objects – in some cases they had been stolen, burnt, or mouldy – underscoring the challenges faced by homeless people.

Steph’s research was funded by a University of Hull PhD cluster based within Academy of Primary Care.

Steph's co-supervisor Dr Elizabeth Price, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Hull, said. "This timely and important work offers insights into the experiences of an often hidden, and very much marginalised, population. The exhibition is original, thought-provoking and genuinely moving."

Professor Joanne Reeve, Director of the Academy of Primary Care, said "Steph's study is an important part of our work within the Academy of Primary Care to transform primary healthcare.

"Their work describes the complex health and healthcare needs facing trans communities - experiences that are powerfully presented within the exhibition. These findings are helping us to better understand what person-centred healthcare should look like – why and how we need to rebuild healthcare around the individual experiencing health-related disruption to their daily life.”

The exhibition is being hosted at the University of Hull Brynmor Jones Café from 10 November 2023 to 15 December 2023.

After its initial run at the University of Hull, the exhibition will move to the University of Manchester in February for a month-long display, continuing the dialogue on trans homelessness and health.

Funding for the exhibition was made possible by The Ferens Education Trust and the UKRI-funded Higher Education Innovation Fund at the University of Hull.

Steph said, "Trans people just want to live their lives in the same way as anybody else, yet they experience much higher rates of homelessness compared to the general population. I hope that this exhibition will raise awareness and ignite dialogues about the root causes of this discrepancy."

For more information about the exhibition, contact Steph Busby: hysb37@hyms.ac.uk. Steph's PhD is funded by a University of Hull cluster based in the Academy of Primary Care.