PUNK USUAL PINES is a celebration of the life and work of Theo Khelfoune Ferreras, who passed away in 2023 when they were 19 years old. Theo was part of a community of young artists and activists in all their diversity, some of whom will be showcased in the exhibition. We are grateful for the support of TURF projects that provided, free of charge, the space for the exhibition.
The title PUNK USUAL PINES refers to the three-word location given by the Coroner’s office to their family to locate where Theo passed away. Considering Theo loved the Punk movement and they were fascinated by trees and forests, the three words seem like a premonition/inspiration. Theo is buried under a Scots Pine in Epping Forest burial site.
This retrospective exhibition not only celebrates life, it also serves as a platform to discuss collective grief, loss, and mental health, especially among young people in all their diversity. For this, we have the support and collaboration of Grief in Pieces, Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest and Rainbow Mind, which will hold a space as part of the events.
We are passionate about the opportunity to create a meaningful and joyful event that will inspire, educate, and raise funds for a vital cause. The benefits from the sale of Theo’s work will be donated to projects supporting grief support and mental health among young people.
In the world of one of the artists present at the show: we aim to ‘explore grief as a social and personal experience, and where to find places to grieve in a culture where death is considered taboo to discuss’.
‘When Theo passed, I lost a close friend, they had a magical way of connecting with people they had never met before and this project is partially a way of keeping that connection going. I hope that those who see my piece see a little bit of my friend, and keep them. It has been complicated to pin down exactly what this piece is about; it is both my experiences of loss and a tribute. I know I will never stop grieving, the grief will just change, so, this altar is a place to grieve openly, it is simply a dedicated space to a loved one, an area of acceptance and acknowledgement, holding them in a space that isn’t sad and honouring them without guilt or shame’.
The participant artists are:
Charly Scholes
ERROR_0x106 (Miles M Reid) and Daithi “Electronic Child” Donnelly
Adrian Zeqja
Grace NC Mattholie
Roxy Toledo Munrose
@melon_comics
@cultofshane
Emily Burns
Sophie Zie-Carreras
Mary Carreras
and others
In addition to Turf project, Grief in Pieces, Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest, Rainbow Mind, we also thank The Brit School for their support and the artists and collaborators of this show.