SoulsINQUEST uses photography and writing as a lens onto state violence, death, grief, and resistance. The exhibition is an embodiment of family resistance that refuses to be silenced, misrepresented, or forgotten and a powerful act of defiance in response to decades of injustice. It is a collaboration between eighteen members of bereaved families, photographer Sarah Booker and INQUEST – an organisation which provides specialist, comprehensive advice on contentious state related deaths and their investigation.
Founded in 1981 by bereaved families and campaigners, INQUEST is the only organisation in England and Wales that provides a specialist, comprehensive advice service on contentious state related deaths and their investigation. In recent years, INQUEST has been supporting the families of Katie Allan and Sheku Bayoh as part of a wider examination of the post-death processes in Scotland. As part of INQUEST’s anniversary project – Unlocking the Truth for 40 Years – Sarah worked alongside eighteen family members, all of whom have been traumatically bereaved due to state violence. Together, they created eighteen visual and textual works.
SoulsINQUEST demonstrates that creative co-production is a powerful tool for families to take control of their stories and challenge harmful and misleading public assertions made about their loved ones. We invite you to join in this creative moment to publicly reflect on family voice in the fight for justice.
Part of Glasgow International Programme 2024.
A list of resources offering further insight and information is provided below by INQUEST:
EVENTS PROGRAMME
Blueprint Workshop
Friday 14 June | 10am - 1pm | free but ticketed, full details here
Blueprint Workshop is a creative session for adults with experience or interested in the criminal justice system.
Artist Richie Cumming has developed this workshop to invite people to creatively respond to the question: How can we make the Criminal Justice System Better?
All materials provided. This workshop is delivered in partnership with Vox Liminis.
The UK is Not Innocent: The Story of INQUEST | film screening followed by Q&A
Wednesday 19 June | 3.30pm - 5pm | free but ticketed, full details here
The UK is Not Innocent is a 45-minute documentary film made by Rainbow Collective as part of INQUEST’s 40 Years heritage project.
SoulsINQUEST Panel Discussion
Wednesday 19 June | 6pm - 8pm | free but ticketed, full details here
A panel discussion featuring: Aamer Anwar (Lawyer), Sarah Armstrong (Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research / Glasgow University), Deborah Coles (Director, INQUEST) and Kadi Johnson (Sister of Sheku Bayoh)
EXHIBITION GUIDED TOURS
Thursday 20 June | 11am and 2pm | free but ticketed, full details here
Join an informal tour of the exhibition with Sarah Booker and family participants, offering further insight into the project, artworks on display and archive materials that is presented.
INQUEST X Abolitionist Futures zine-making workshop
Thursday 20 June | 5pm - 7pm | free but ticketed, full details here
Guided tour of the SoulsINQUEST exhibition with photographer Sarah Booker followed by a zine-making workshop. Whether you’re a long-time abolitionist or totally new to these ideas, we invite you gather, talk and create with us. All materials will be provided.
