London artist creates visual petition

by James McDonald

A London artist is taking to the streets to highlight the dangers faced by prostitutes due to government legislation.

Natasha Gomperts visited London College of Communication (LCC) on Wednesday to draw portraits of students who wanted to help raise awareness for sex workers whose human, civil and labour rights are being put at risk.

Alternative petition

Rather than collecting signatures like a traditional petition, Natasha aims to draw the portraits of 1,000 people supporting the cause and students at LCC were more than happy to help.

Natasha said: “The unique and original feature of this project is that it is in drawing and it is a work of art. The form of a petition is therefore challenged and re-defined. At a time of political ambivalence, a pencil is cutting across public apathy. As an artist I would not be interested in conducting a formal traditional petition for this cause. It is because I work as a commercial portrait drawer that I have feel I have something to offer the cause which others could not.

250 faces

“I hope by the end of the day to be pushing 250 [portraits] but I don’t have many working days left before the show. Anyone who helps and volunteers to join in the cause will get their drawing for free – a souvenir work of fine art – otherwise they’re available in the gallery shop.

“We all know what it's like to put our name on a petition. But, they say that a picture speaks a thousand words, so we hope that the thousand portraits will be a more powerful way for people to pledge their support.”

As well as spending time in the LCC canteen finding students willing to participate, Natasha was welcomed into the artsLONDON newsroom to draw the MA Journalism students as they worked on the next issue of the student newspaper.

Deadline

As the deadline for completing all of the portraits approaches, Natasha will be building up her collection of drawings on the streets of London in pubs, clubs, around office buildings and other university campuses.

“I love the spontaneity and unpredictable environment of drawing on the streets. With only five minutes to get each portrait done, it's going to be pretty intense. But I'm very excited about the challenge and hope that my drawings will help to bring this important cause the attention it deserves.”

Exhibition

Once she has collected all 1,000 drawings, Natasha will be exhibiting her work at The Gallery, Shepherd Market, which was once a notorious red light district in Mayfair. Members of the public are invited to visit The Gallery in the week of the exhibition, which is free of charge, to add their face to the petition in support of those who have to keep their faces hidden from public view.

Catherine Stephens of the International Union for Sex Workers said: “The Drawn Petition is a wonderful collaboration that we hope will really capture the imagination to raise awareness of the dangers faced by sex workers every day. Natasha’s fast yet intimate portraits are a superb and inspirational way of doing this.”

Anyone wishing to take part in The Drawn Petition should get down to The Gallery at 54 Shepherd Market between March 29 and April 4. The show will be open from 11am until 9pm, apart from Sunday when the gallery shuts at 3pm.