A creative writing workshop exploring the relationship between language, desire and representation

Autograph’s upcoming exhibition Charan Singh: Your Tongue (https://autograph.org.uk/exhibitions/charan-singh-your-tongue-in-my-mouth)in My Mouth (https://autograph.org.uk/exhibitions/charan-singh-your-tongue-in-my-mouth)explores how South Asian queer narratives have been obscured, omitted and reshaped by colonial legacies. Through the exhibition, language becomes a site of power, shaping memory and influencing how queer identities are represented in the archive.

This workshop offers an opportunity to engage with Singh's exhibition with creative writing, through guided prompts and reflective exercises. Participants will respond creatively to the exhibition while exploring the context that informs Singh's research and practice.

This event will be led by writer, facilitator and poet Gayathri Kamalkanthan whose practice explores how language shapes belonging and how storytelling can help build freer futures. Gayathiri will incorporate a newly commissioned text created in response to the exhibition, into the workshop.

The ticket price for this event is £10. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If this ticket price is unaffordable for you, please get in touch with info@autograph-abp.co.uk about free ticketing options.

Read more on Autograph's website (https://autograph.org.uk/events/voices-for-dissent-voices-for-desire-creative-writing-workshop/)

Workshop Lead by

Gayathiri Kamalkanthan is a Tamil writer based in London. They’re interested in how language shapes belonging and how we might use it to build freer futures. Gayathiri is a recipient of the Poetry Archive Prize and the Disabled Poets Prize. Their play 'Period Parrrty' is a trans Tamil rom-com and opened at Soho Theatre (London) in 2025. Their debut novel-in-verse, 'Bad Queer', is out with Faber.

Your Visit to Autograph

Everyone is welcome at Autograph. Planning a visit? Have a look at our Visit Us (https://autograph.org.uk/visit-us) page to find out more about getting to the gallery, accessibility and more.

Limited tickets: Autograph's events are very popular. We reccomend booking in advance.

Accessible venue: Autograph welcomes people with all types of disabilities.

Seating: This is a seated event.

Step free: Our building and entrance is step free. A wheelchair accessible lift goes to all floors.

Location: This event will take place in the Studio on the ground floor.

Materials: The ticket price for this event includes materials.

Refreshments: There will be light refreshments available trhoughout the event.

Have any questions about your visit? Get in touch with info@autograph-abp.co.uk

Ticketing policy

The ticket price for this event is £10. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If this ticket price is unaffordable for you please get in touch with at info@autograph-abp.co.uk about free ticketing options. Autograph's events are popular, and often sell out. We recommend booking a ticket in advance. If you need to cancel your ticket for any reason, you can receive a refund up to 24 hours before the start of the event. You do not need to bring your paper ticket to the event.

Autograph supported by

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Charan Singh: Your Tongue in My Mouth is suppported by Arts Council England.

Autograph ABP Registered in England | VAT no. 244105051 | Registered Charity no. 1127712

Images: 1) Charan Singh, Umrao, 2026. Commissioned by Autograph, London. 2) Autograph, London. Photograph by Kate Elliot.

Description supplied by the event organiser.