Run by Fernando Basaldua and Tristan Aitchison, XOKO is a coffee bar and bakehouse situated in the heart of Inverness. Known for their expertly crafted bakes and ever-changing wall displays, the friendly open-plan eatery has been designed so that everyone feels welcome and well-fed.
XOKO works with local creatives to host monthly exhibitions and they’ve partnered with print studio Isle of Riso for their new Pride-themed show. Launching in 2021 by illustrator Alice Prentice, Isle of Riso is the first riso studio in Inverness and aims to help local artists and businesses discover the exciting possibilities of riso printing.
XOKO and Isle of Riso invited a group of artists from across the UK to create bright, bold, stand-out prints that represent either their own identity as a queer artist or the wider LGBTQ+ community.
The Pride Wall features work from 12 different artists; Amy F Anderson, Ariana Lupascu, Daisy May Nash. Greg McIndoe, Issey Medd, Leo Valenti, Lukasz Lesnik, Nico McLaughlin, Ollie Bartolowicz, Rowan Frewin, Srija Shrestha and Zipporah Reynolds.
Artworks for the exhibition were produced by Isle of Riso using a Risograpg printer (a kind of printer which looks like a photocopier but operates like a screen printer, printing one layer of vibrant ink at a time). Copies of each print are available to purchase from XOKO for £25 each throughout the exhibition.
The show features a wide array of different styles and subject matters; from fun fruit stickers to colourful eyeballs. Some artists chose to shed light on different aspects of modern queer culture, while others took inspiration from LGBTQ+ icons from throughout history and mythology.
Glasgow-based illustrator, Nico McLaughlin wanted to honour famous bisexuals with her artwork. “When researching for this project, I wanted to go through the entire alphabet – but I stopped at A once I read the story of Julie D’Aubigny”, Nico explains. “Aubigny was a French opera singer, cross-dresser, fencing master, and raging bisexual. From burning down a convent to rescue the women she loved to falling for a man she nursed back to health after beating him in a duel, this woman was fierce, unapologetic and loved who she wanted!”
Comic artist Rowan Frewin chose to incorporate butterflies into their artwork to symbolise gender fluidity. “Each of the butterflies in this piece is a gynandromorph, meaning that they contain both male and female characteristics,” says Rowan. “As a Non-Binary person, I love seeing the ways that nature is not always as binary as we are led to believe.”
Dundee-based visual artist Lukasz Lesnik explores the idea of emotional disconnect in his print. “The piece depicts two male figures in a sexual act, but this work is not about intimacy,” he says. “There is a deeper personal meaning to this artwork as it represents the “hook-up” culture that is very much present in today’s society and that many can relate to.”
Nepali-born, Inverness-based illustrator Srija Shrestha looks at a more tender side of queer life. “My piece explores the themes of feminine love, gentleness and loving freely,” Srija elaborates, “It features a sweet Nepali text ‘Mero Maya’ which is commonly used to address our dear ones and lovers.”
The Pride Wall is on display in XOKO Bakehouse, Inverness until June 30th 2023
All artworks are available to purchase for £25 each at XOKO Bakehouse.
Words by Greg McIndoe
Images by James F MacKenzie
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