Chavi

Chav culture, its showy glitz and tawdry style is taken back to its roots via three artists from Gypsy and Traveller communities in the UK. Through contemporary art discourse they reflect upon their individual position in society whilst critiquing the role of the Gypsy in societal narratives.

Chavi, the Romany word for kid, has been recently appropriated as a derogatory label for working class youth style. Although the look signalled by this label has its origins in a Gypsy aesthetic, these references are usually forgotten, reflecting society's ongoing denial or ignorance of the Gypsy's creative influence on wider society. CHAVI seeks to address any myopic views of the Gypsy by offering a view from within whilst exposing and commenting on the origins of a street style.

By making work that confronts and subverts stereotypes these artists re-evaluate and at the same time reclaim Gypsy representation.