From 4 to 31 May, this art show is designed to get us thinking and more importantly, get us talking.
This May will be Talk Club’s first Mental Fitness Month, raising both vital funds for the charity, but also awareness of some significant numbers. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK, and a man takes his own life every 90 minutes. Sadly May is one of the worst months for suicides, and Talk Club wants to change this by encouraging men to get mentally fit, showing them they are loved and hopefully reducing those statistics.
Six Bristol artists will fill the walls of the Arnolfini bar and cafe with original artworks and prints, many of which will invite conversation about mental health. The artists will exhibit both existing and new work to invite audiences to engage with every aspect of mental fitness.
Big Jeff will exhibit some of his most emotive work, painted as a way to overcome social anxiety and mental health challenges. Tozer will design the Talk Club slogan "How Are You? Out of 10?" as a bespoke sign with numbers to interact with, along with a logo for the "Life By Numbers" exhibition itself.
Celebrated stencil artist Stewy will exhibit his image of Liam Gallagher wearing a t-shirt reading “How are you? Out of 10?”, among a host of other work including a piece featuring the band IDLES. Prolific street artist Sickboy and DFTE whose pop up signs saying “If you’re looking for a sign that everything is going to be alright, this is it” have become a phenomenon in Bristol, complete the artist line up.
Talk Club is a male mental fitness charity founded in Bristol in 2019, providing a talking (and listening) community that creates safe spaces for men to be vulnerable and look after their mental health. In just under 4 years it has grown to over 70 clubs globally and has over 3000 men as part of the community.
The exhibition is kindly supported by Bristol Beer Factory and the Arnolfini.
Celebrated Bristol artist Stewy explains;
“Talk Club has given me the opportunity to reflect on my own childhood growing up with a parent suffering from mental health issues and the ‘old' way mental health was addressed. My father spent short periods of the 70’s in Victorian psychiatric wards suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and depression. I vividly remember the smells of disinfectant and the calm pale blue/green long corridors. The decision to stencil IDLES band in particular Joe Talbot was because of their raw passion for honesty, incivility and community through the AF Gang - the best of Bristol.”
Gavin Thorpe, Co-founder of Talk Club explains;
"It is incredible to see all these amazing artists come together to help raise awareness and funds for Talk Club. The money raised from the first ‘Life By Numbers’ event will help us to set up 10 therapy groups around the UK which will help hundreds of men get the support they need."
Big Jeff Johns, who is currently recovering from a fire in his home comments;
"I feel extremely privileged to be part of this exhibition. I believe art has the ability to be able to connect with emotional and mental health matters to start conversations. Talk Club is an amazing charity.”
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