Live Art Bookshop: Fat Body Work Book Launch

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the launch of Charlotte Cooper’s new book, Fat Body Work: Somatics, Curiosity, Care and Practice.

Fat Body Work is a deeply personal and politically charged journey through fat embodiment and creative resistance. With roots in Fat Studies, queer ethics, anti-oppressive practice, and somatic inquiry, this book is a powerful invitation to rethink what movement, care and liberation can look like across the life course.

The launch will feature a live reading from Fat Body Work, and the world premiere of Nuidey, a brand-new short film by Charlotte Cooper made specially for this project. There will be a rare screening of SWAGGA: A Study On Camera by Katarzyna Perlak and Project O (Jamila Johnson-Small & Alexandrina Hemsley), featured in the book. Photographs from a new collaboration with Holly Revell will be on display. Copies of the book will be available to buy and Charlotte is happy to sign them.

Whether you're an artist, activist, practitioner, or simply curious, this event is for anyone interested in movement, healing, liberation and joy.

About Fat Body Work

Fat Body Work (2025, 33editions) concerns the things Charlotte Cooper has learned from moving her body. Body work as the creative or political project of fat people is a tale rarely told. Tracing the shifting realities of fatphobia, ageing and care, this book blends experimental and embodied research, critical reflection, short essays, archival writings, drawings and poetry.

People who might particularly enjoy Fat Body Work:

• Fat liberationists, people looking for work that validates their lived experience and offers alternative and intersectional narratives of body work
• Scholars in sociology, psychology, and cultural studies researching embodiment, somatics, intersectionality, identity and creative research methodology
• Professionals including psychotherapists working with clients dealing with fatphobia, body image issues, trauma, and oppression; somatic workers; dance educators; Health At Every Size practitioners
• Performers, dance workers, anyone with a body work practice

Read an excerpt here.

Access Information

Event information: The book launch will feature a 10 minute reading and the 40 minute screening of two related short films. After this there will be opportunities to chat, buy the book and get it signed.

This is a seated event. Various seating options will be available including fold out chairs, office chairs, a sofa and a bench. All are welcome to join in a relaxed space and are free to come and go as they please. The lighting will be fixed with no sudden changes and microphone amplification will be used. There are disposable masks and hand sanitiser available.

LADA space:The building is wheelchair accessible by lift and provides a wheelchair accessible ground-floor bathroom. All bathrooms are gender inclusive. There is no isolated quiet space inside, but there is a small quiet outdoor area. Some of the art on display in the space includes naked bodies. You can find more information and see photos of the space here. Should you have any particular access requirements, please email willy@thisisliveart.co.uk and we will be happy to offer further support.

Content notes:Charlotte’s film Nuidey features three naked people moving in slow motion. Please email willy@thisisliveart.co.uk if you would like more information on what to expect.

Image credit: Charlotte Cooper and Holly Revell, 2025.