By engaging brain injury survivors in art, Submit to Love is supporting them to rebuild their lives, whilst also uncovering hidden or forgotten talents. NR Times learns more about he East London project which is enabling people to submit to the love of art
“In a strange way, disability has freed me up to express myself in my art, and no longer care what others think. I have been forced by disability to come to terms with living in a less than perfect body in a less than perfect world.”
For Chris, a 68-year-old retired science teacher and youth and community worker, art has enabled him to accept his new self.
Having developed stroke-like symptoms after an operation seven years ago, which have affected his writing hand, face and speech and means he now walks with the aid of a stick, Chris produces artwork to explore his new self and how he is viewed.
Among his works are a series of paintings which ‘reimagine’ iconic artworks with him as the central figure – The Scream, Ophelia and Venus.
“Art was a way of exploring and communicating what it felt like to experience big changes in my life. ’Normal’ people often feel they have to get everything right to produce art,” says Chris.
And through the Submit to Love project, Chris is one of many brain injury survivors who have been enabled to discover and build new talents and means of dealing with their disability.
Having been encouraged by the studio manager to pick up a paintbrush and paint for the first time in many years, Chris, and many others, have discovered huge benefits in doing so.
The art project, part of Headway East London, has engaged hundreds of survivors in this way over the past 20 years, supporting them gradually and at their own pace to produce painting, printmaking, ceramics, embroidery and mosaics, which are frequently so good they are displayed externally – pieces have been part of exhibitions in the Southbank Centre, Southwark Park Gallery and the Autograph Gallery.
Some of the project’s artists – with ages ranging from people in their 20s through to over 80s – have also been given the 
opportunity to discuss their work in the Tate Modern, Turner Contemporary, RA and Barbican Centre.
And through Submit to Love, whose mission is ‘discovery through art’, survivors are able to take a newly-discovered – or re-discovered – talent and use it to aid their rehabilitation.
“One thing we’re very clear about at Headway East London is that the studio doesn’t offer art therapy in the way that people will assume,” says Laura Owens, from the charity.
“The vast majority of the studio artists are self-taught and when they join us they haven’t done any art since school, or at all, previously. We encourage artists to develop their own artistic practice and support them to build up a portfolio of work, and over time each artist develops their artistic ‘voice’ and unique style.
“A few people now think of themselves predominantly as artists, which is fantastic as the studio is providing new roles and identities, but it’s definitely not something we’re actively pushing for.
“More than anything we just want people to create art about the things they are interested in and what inspires them, however unusual or unexpected that may be.”
The Submit to Love studio – which, in pre-COVID times, could welcome up to 40 artists a week – has developed strongly since being established, and is led by the creativity of the survivors it engages and continues to grow in response to that.
“Art at Headway East London began over 20 years ago, when the charity was first established, with a table and a sink in the main centre, growing and growing until it moved into its current space in a converted railway arch next to the main building,” says Laura.
“Like any activity at Headway, it was started because our members wanted it. We try to co-produce our offering, meaning we’ll only run something if there’s appetite for it, and thankfully, with art, this appetite only increased.
“Some of the artists use their brain injury and its effects to inform their work whereas others don’t. Some talk about the way art has helped them to process the changes and losses they have experienced as a result of their brain injury, whilst others see it merely as a fun pastime.
“Over time, as members started to self-identify as artists, we felt that was really important that the studio had its own identity and name, separate from Headway.”
The name Submit to Love was born from the words and artwork of Tony Allen, one of the studio artists. 
In creating the new identity, Tony said: “Everyone’s got to love. When you love someone, you enjoy them and you like their work. It’s highly important, that is. Submit to Love. Everyone can do that. You just think about anything you want, and you think, ‘Yeah, I could do that.’ And you put pen to paper.”
“We are led by the artists and want their voices to always be at the forefront,” says Laura.
“Some of our artists have been working on and refining their craft in the studio for over 20 years, so it’s no surprise they have a high-quality portfolio worthy of exhibiting.
“Having said that, there are some artists who are fairly new to art who have a bold vision and distinguished style from the start.
“The fact is, so much great art exists outside of the traditional spaces, if we’re willing to look for it. We’re seeing this happen a little more, but there’s still a lot of work to be done to equally value and appreciate artists working outside of the mainstream.”
Despite lockdown, work has continued in earnest, with sessions being held via Zoom and the studio holding its Print Fest online, which showcases the different printmaking practices artists use.
Held for the first time and in-person in 2019, which enabled artists to meet the project’s many supporters and enabled them to buy the artwork, it was successfully translated into an online event for 2021.
And while the project team are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to bring everyone back together post-lockdown, it has given an opportunity to reflect on the many achievements of the survivors, and of the Submit to Love project itself.
“We’re so proud of the growth of the studio in the past few years,” says Laura.
“Not only have we seen our artists work exhibited in Southbank Centre, Southwark Park Gallery and the Autograph Gallery, we’ve also supported our artists to talk about their work and run workshops in the Tate Modern, Turner Contemporary, RA and Barbican Centre.
“We’re really excited to be able to show our first embroidery exhibition at Autograph when the gallery reopens in early Summer 2021. Alongside that, we’ve completed studio commissions for clients like It’s Nice That, and we’re selling our own range of merchandise products.
“Being situated in East London also means that we’ve had the pleasure of working with some fantastic, talented guest artists – too many to name!
“We’re excited to see where this leads us in the coming years.”
* To learn more about the project, and to buy some of the artists’ work, visit Submit to Love
