Because You Can’t Tickle Yourself

‘Laughter is a deeply embodied disruptive force which takes us back to our animal vitality’. 

Our work explores family myths and twisted truths encouraging the viewer to explore their own back stories. Weaving together the collective fabrications to evoke conversation we create installations that are humourous, human and fearless. Using themes from fairgrounds, canal & island life on a Merry Go Round of Roses and Castles to shift the edge to the centre of absurdity and queer joy. The work is raw emotion, roughly hewn, metamorphosising its journey like a determined rambler.  

‘Laughter is the working class revolution’ 

Our works will explore an autobiographical viewpoint of family myths and twisted truths that spark the listener to share their memoir.  

‘The Artist’s Husband is a collaborative of Joshua Raffell and Dave Smithers. Together they create the ideas for artworks. Josh makes and Dave writes. They stretch, absorb and transform their ideas. Their installations and performances are raw emotion, roughly hewn from the broken heart of non-conformity. Anxiety wends its way through the work like a determined rambler. Details of shame, hidden or cancelled thought, sit alongside absurd gesture, confidence and vibrant colour. Crafts and the cheeky alure of humour invite the periphery to hold hands and observe. The work experiments until the physical and emotional is shredded. The work is a metamorphosis, restarting its journey at the edges of existence.’  

The Artist Husband was awarded 1st place in our 2025 Quay Arts OPEN Biennial exhibition ‘SOFT’. Their entry 'Nonsuch memory of my Birth' (pictured below) explored the artist’s relationship with his mother through an ambitious interactive, multi-media installation that juxtaposes materials such as ceramic and yarn with a wall-mounted video work featuring a poem written and read by the artist.

Quay Arts OPEN Biennial is a themed exhibition call-out open to artists across the UK every 2 years. Selected artists then display in a group exhibition in our West Gallery. Two winners are selected from the displaying artists; 1st place receives a solo West Gallery exhibition, and 2nd place receives a solo Clayden Gallery exhibition; both winners receive support from Quay Arts. Our next OPEN Biennial will be taking place in 2027.

For a Relaxed Session, please contact us in advance to discuss this, as well as any access queries or special requests for your visit at [email protected]