Shape Arts’ annual open exhibition will be hosted by its patron, Yinka Shonibare MBE, at his Guest Projects space in Hackney, London, from 4 February 2016.The Shape Open 2016 theme ‘My Life’ encouraged both disabled and non-disabled artists to creatively express life through the lens of disability.

Using an exciting range of mediums such as blood, machinery and modified everyday objects to express their ideas, the artists drew on memory, nostalgia and processes of internal reflection to explore the complexity of this year’s theme.

The responses are serious-minded, satirical, and often ambiguous, requiring the viewer to consider the different aspects of disability and to challenge the way that disability is perceived.

The final artworks were carefully selected for the exhibition by a panel of judges including Yinka Shonibare MBE, Shape Open Prize Winner 2014 Carly Jayne, Shape Chief Executive Tony Heaton OBE and Open coordinator Ben Fredericks.

Yinka Shonibare commented: “I decided on ‘My Life’ as - quite literally - an ‘open’ brief for the Shape Open 2015, in order to allow the artists to freely explore the theme. In the context of an ever-changing society, I felt that it was important to encourage reflection on the lives of disabled people and create an honest and wide-ranging discussion about the barriers that we face.

“The Shape Open continues to be an innovative platform that promotes disabled artists, allowing them to progress onto larger platforms with wider audiences. My own career has developed greatly as a result of participating in similar exhibitions.”

Shape Arts’ annual open exhibition - Guest Projects space, Hackney - From 4 February 2016.