Vince Laws Blog
Vince Laws is a poet, artist, performer, campaigner. He writes poetry, performs poetry and makes visual poetry, paintings, collage, posters, film, installations and recordings: “As an artist, I define what art is. As a poet, I define what a poem is. If my art can be anything from a painting to a concept, so can my poetry. I am a poem.”
17 January 2012
I Am A Poem: Folkestone
Poet, artist and campaigner Vince Laws takes over Georges House Gallery, The Old High Street, Folkestone, from February 3-15. Expect visual poetry, text art, protest art, performances, events, and...Comments: 0
9 November 2011
My Mental Helmet
I’ve had two pieces selected for a 6 month long exhibition in Nottingham called 'Diversity'. It's been put together by City Arts, Nottingham and The Institute of Mental Health...Comments: 1
5 October 2011
Work for the Facing Hard Times exhibition
I’ve just had two works selected for the Facing Hard Times exhibition, which launches in Kings Lynn on Saturday 1st October, 2-7pm. (I hope to be there from 2-5pm!) EAT THE POOR is a limited...Comments: 0
1 October 2011
Vince sits for Tanya Raabe at Tate Modern
I’ve just sat for a portrait by Tanya Raabe. I'm not going to lie, I had a blast. There I stood, an HIV+ depressed queer performing poetry in the Tate - how did that happen? I want to do it...Comments: 0
28 September 2011
Atos Kills at the Tate
Poet, artist and campaigner, Vince Laws, has launched a collection of ‘Atos Kills’ funeral cards in the Tate Modern whilst having his portrait painted. The limited edition collection...Comments: 6
1 September 2011
Tate Blog
Vince Laws invites us to Tanya at the Tate... Well let’s be honest, I’ve had my share of shit to deal with this year - but you know what, from shit springs roses! On 21st September I...Comments: 0
16 August 2011
Did we need these riots?
Nick Clegg, the deputy Prime Minister, warned about riots in April 2010, a month before the last general election.You can see him talking prior to the election in this clip on youtube at...Comments: 0
20 July 2011
Do Not Stop Taking Your Medication
I’ve just stopped taking my medication. Five days ago as I write. I see it as an act of self-preservation rather than an act of self-harm. I’m struggling with my mental health. To be...Comments: 5
20 June 2011
Painting for Peter Tatchell
On July 1st the Norwich Pride Portrait show opens at St Gregory’s Church of Art, Pottergate, Norwich. Inspired by this I’ve worked on a series of self-portraits, 3 done, another on the...Comments: 3
14 June 2011
Living Poem
Results of the Living Poem, devised by Vince Laws, Trudy Howson and the Out Write crew, held in St Margaret’s Church of Art, as part of Norwich Fringe Festival, 15-28 May 2011. In bold are the...Comments: 0
25 May 2011
Vince publishes a Poem for a Wedding
I was commissioned to write a poem for a wedding. Here it is. Vows Would you care to dance with me through tunnels of trees and lime leaves so sharply green I fear for our safety? Take me by...Comments: 0
16 May 2011
Vince Laws invites contributions for the Living Poem
It started as an idea. What would happen if you asked people to add words to a poem? Or substitute words? I’ll find out on Saturday 14th May when The Living Poem is launched (7.30-9.30pm) at St...Comments: 0
28 February 2011
Vince Laws is writing A Very Queer Faust!
I haven’t blogged for ages and here’s the reason why: I’m in the process of writing A Very Queer Faust! Yesterday we recorded the first 10 minutes, today that was edited and...Comments: 0
17 November 2010
Vince Laws offers some culinary tips with a dash of poetic licence...
EAT THE POOR Recipe 1 Scapegoat Curry: Ask your local Lib Dem or Tory butcher to cut scrag end of poor person into bite-sized chunks. Pepper with insults. Fry until no longer red, then set aside....Comments: 2
31 October 2010
Killing themselves may not be their Intention…
I’m HIV+ and dealing with depression and in practical terms that means I lack energy and I get anxious and I find paperwork and officialdom daunting. I’m on Employment & Support...Comments: 3
18 October 2010
Vince Laws organises a candlelit vigil in support of the 'No to Hate Crime' campaign
No one should have to suffer physical or verbal abuse for being who they are, regardless of their race, sexuality, faith, disability, whatever. On Saturday 23 October there will be Candlelit Vigils...Comments: 0
15 October 2010
Vince Laws takes to the streets with the Norwich Dandies for the Wellbeing Festival
Earlier this year, frustrated with the difficulties of finding gallery space, I rented a whole church and put together a group of artists whose work I like and we called ourselves The Norwich...Comments: 4
14 September 2010
Vince Laws puts his pants on the line for the Pope
The Politics of Protest As explained in my previous blog I’m protesting the Pope’s visit to the UK with a visual poem, THIS POPE IS PANTS. BBC Radio Suffolk offered to interview me...Comments: 6
20 August 2010
Vince Laws wants your pants to welcome the Pope
I’m not very keen on the current Pope. I’ve been thinking how I could protest his visit to the UK (September 16-19) and satisfy my poetic and artistic needs, and here’s the...Comments: 4
9 August 2010
Vince Laws takes up the OUT140 challenge to tell a coming-out story in 140 characters
I told my parents I was bisexual when I was 16. They said "go to your room." I’m involved in a project on Twitter called OUT140, which has collected coming-out stories from the LGBT community,...Comments: 1
14 July 2010
Vince Laws considers 'audacity' and makes another version of 'i am a poem'
...and one day in the future at a university lecture a lass will lift a languid limb and ask, almost seductively if you the poet, writing this now really had the audacity all those years ago to write...Comments: 1
10 July 2010
Vince Laws is a burning poem
I’m right in the middle of getting a window installation together and I thought I’d share part of it with you. I’m treating the whole gallery window as my canvas. On the windowsill...Comments: 0
25 June 2010
Vince Laws shares a piece of visual artwork about what 'they' did to his head
Last year I got called in to the Job Centre during a long period of illness. “I see you are a magazine editor,” the person behind the counter said. “I was,” I explained,...Comments: 5
21 June 2010
Vince Laws recalls one fine Father's Day
I was living in Brighton, when Father’s Day came around, and in my house I’m the Daddy! Neither my boyfriend nor my dog sent me a card or said a word all day, so I went for a walk in a...Comments: 4
19 June 2010
Vince Laws joins the Human Library
I’d never heard of the Human Library until I was asked to be a ‘book’ in February as part of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) History Month. As it happens, that event was...Comments: 6