By Isle of Wight Observer
The decorated toilets that flushed social media with excitement across the Isle of Wight are now making a splash at the Quay Arts Centre – or, as it’s now been dubbed, the Loo-vre.
Five porcelain thrones, transformed into eye-catching works of art by local artists, are now on display at the Clayden Gallery until July 27. The exhibition is part of the Your Loo Could Save You campaign, raising awareness of bowel cancer – the UK’s fourth most common cancer – with a message that’s anything but bog-standard.
Originally installed overnight, at locations around the Island in May for just 24 hours, the lavatorial masterpieces stirred up a media buzz. The campaign, led by One Wight Health (a federation of the Island’s GP practices), uses the humble loo to highlight how early signs of bowel cancer can be spotted during a trip to the toilet.
Artists Maddy Dobson, Nathan Holt, Gemma Mallinson, Holly Maslen and Josh Raffell have turned cisterns into canvases and loos into life-saving conversation starters.
Project leader, Fiona Seymour, said: “We hope the exhibition will provide an unusual and rewarding artistic experience while also raising awareness of bowel cancer, a highly treatable form of the disease if caught early.
“We are so grateful to Quay Arts for hosting this exhibition, and we hope visitors to the gallery are inspired and informed by the unusual work of the fabulous artists behind these wonderful toilets.”
So if you’re looking for art with impact, head to the Loo-vre.
