Only Connect

Whether as a consequence of our times or sheer coincidence, I’ve noticed that each exhibition the curators decided to revive, have the thematic heartbeat of community and connection beating through them all. The thirst we all have had, to connect, to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, seems to have shaped the exhibitions you now see on theVOV, and hangs heavy in the supposed summer air, still, a year and a half later. 

And whilst I would be the first to tell you that theVOV was not covid-born, we were dreaming this platform up long before, it was undeniably catalysed by the need to feel held by a community, and it most certainly changed our idea of what a space or a place was. 

Place is no longer physical, rooted in coordinates on a map, we spent a year online and yet we still went places. So a huge question we had at the very beginning of theVOV journey was how to create human connection in an intangible space on the internet?

If you want to listen and learn more about safe spaces in the digital era, watch ‘Exploring Safe Space’ on demand here with Ashley Joiner, Victoria Westerman, Gemma Rolls-Bentley and Nuka Nayu.

I think these concepts and thoughts trickled down, and these recurring nagging emotions perhaps shaped theVOV more than we initially realised. So now, looking back I realise that community, connection and place was at the very heart of what we tried to do because it we cared deeply about, but it is also something that unveils itself in the very content that was produced. 

We told the curators, pick any exhibition, find one that you have lots of digital images of, Which one do you wish you could see again? Which one do you miss? We did not ask them to think of community. Connection was deeply shared in all of our subconscious clearly.

And now, as we reach the end of Season One, we know that we want to have a resilient space that will carry us into an unknown future. We want to have a safe space that exists to meet and to celebrate. We want to ‘only connect’ no matter where life takes us. We have started to think ahead to our next season of life on theVOV, and we can’t wait to see you again, in an even more expansive space that celebrates community.

You can now experience all 15 exhibitions together for the final time on theVOV. Our digital doors will close on Sunday (but not for long!)

with love, from Lottie @theVOV