Special art exhibition opens in Shoreditch to raise money for Big Issue

Keep an eye out for something special: a one-off art exhibition has opened in Shoreditch to raise money for Big Issue.

Themed around “reclaiming the lost”, acclaimed street artist My Dog Sighs has produced 50 limited edition prints with proceeds going to Big Issue’s work.

Running at Jealous Gallery in Shoreditch, east London, until Saturday July 22nd, the exhibition is part of a collaboration for this year’s art special edition, guest-edited by My Dog Sighs.

The artworks on display take the form of eight eyes, with a Big Issue twist linking all of them.

“In the reflection of each eye is a different person. Four of them are random members of my family and friends, and four of them are random Big Issue vendors,” My Dog Sighs told us at the opening night.

“I wanted to get the idea that you don’t know which one is which, just like you don’t know whether at some point you might end up needing the support of the Big Issue.”

Along with the artworks, My Dog Sighs has created a unique mural on the roof of the Jealous Gallery, and pieces from other artists are also on display.

Our art special edition, guest edited by My Dog Sighs, explores how art and artists across the country are reclaiming lost areas.

Copies are still available here from the Big Issue Shop.

And if you’re in the Shoreditch area, the exhibition is just metres from another piece of Big Issue art – a mural painted on Village Underground.

The bright red “Street is my Store” mural puts the spotlight on Big Issue’s vendors, while promoting a new scheme of personalised QR codes allowing customers to support their local vendor.

Find out more about it here.

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter