Yorkshire Contemporary is thrilled to present a new body of work by Leeds-based artist K Walker for Light Night Leeds 2026. Walker is a multidisciplinary artist who uses photography, sculpture, costume, moving image and poetry to explore ideas around gender, illness, otherness, queerness and sensuality. Consisting of performance, sculpture, sound and moving image, I want ur hands on me (unrequited) is an installation that explores Leeds’ queer nightlife. As Walker says, “Nightclubs and parties can offer a level of escapism but also feel existential for the individuals dancing.” This new commission draws on the emotional ups and downs of clubbing, both the excitement of the dancefloor as well as the loneliness that can sometimes accompany you onto it. Informed by a workshop with members of the queer community in Leeds, Walker will bring collective voices, memories and feelings about the queer club scene into a sound work created in collaboration with KESSIE, a resident DJ at Leeds queer club night Love Muscle. Walker will also work with videographer Ronnie Danaher to create a new moving image work, filmed in and around West Yorkshire. This commission marks the first time Walker has worked with professional performers, and is supported by Yorkshire Dance. With influences ranging from body-building to The Wizard of Oz and techno music, I want ur hands on me (unrequited) showcases a nuanced experience of nightlife in the city, during its largest nighttime cultural event.

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