About

An impossible maze, with no end, forms the basis of an artwork by Birmingham artist and activist Foka Wolf. Produced by Ikon, Birmingham in 2023 and exhibited this summer at Fabrica and on billboard sites in Brighton, Why Are We Stuck in Hospital? illustrates the invisibility of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in long-stay hospitals.

Comprising graphic design and declarative captions, Foka Wolf’s posters respond to Why Are We Stuck in Hospital? – a research-based project by the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham in partnership with rights-based organisation Changing Our Lives. The research raises awareness of the 2,000 people with learning disabilities and / or autistic people who live in hospital settings for long periods of time, often for many years and with no planned date to leave. Ikon’s exhibition coincides with the publication of policy guidelines based on the experiences of people with learning disabilities, their families and front-line staff.

Known for his ‘subvertisements’, which parody corporate and political posters, Foka Wolf’s interventions question our society's values and infrastructure and whether it is meeting the needs of our communities.

Why Are We Stuck in Hospital? by Foka Wolf was originally exhibited at Ikon Gallery (7 – 19 March 2023) and The Exchange, Birmingham (7 March – 17 June 2023) and Site Gallery, Sheffield (21 March – 7 April 2024).