Opening Night: I Still Dream of Lost Vocabularies

About the exhibtion

This major group exhibition examines how photographs can be deconstructed and reassembled through the idea of collage, offering new perspectives on complex histories and contested social realities.

With deep roots in activism and artistic experimentation, photomontage has a rich legacy as a powerful tool for artists engaging with experiences of political dissent and erasure. Its possibilities are amplified by the relentless evolution of photography - a medium shaped by technological advancement and the shifting politics of representation.

From cut paper to generative AI, more than 90 works by 12 contemporary artists use collage as both method and metaphor, highlighting the fragility of photographic ‘truth’ and the archives that hold it. Featured artists include Arpita Akhanda, Brook Andrew, Jess Atieno, Wendimagegn Belete, Sim Chi Yin, Sunil Gupta, Reena Saini Kallat, Henna Nadeem, Sheida Soleimani, Sabrina Tirvengadum, Thato Toeba, and Qualeasha Wood.

As we reflect on the future of image-making, I Still Dream of Lost Vocabularies resists completeness, questioning whether constructed images can stand in for disputed – and often entangled – narratives when words fail.

Read more on Autograph's website

Your visit / accessibility at autograph

Everyone is welcome at Autograph. Our gallery is located at Rivington Place in Hackney, London. Our iconic building is England’s first permanent public space dedicated to diversity in the visual arts.

Autograph is an accessible venue that welcomes people with all types of disabilities.

Have a look at our Visit Us page, it has full information about accessibility at Autograph.

About our openings

Everyone is welcome to Autograph's exhibition openings. Both galleries will be open, plus a bar and an outdoor seating area. This is an informal event, you can arrive and leave at any time.

Photography / filming at this event

Please note that photography and/or filming may take place at this event. Images from this event may be used by Autograph and external press for marketing and promotional use, including: printed and online publicity, social media, press releases, or other use.

Visit the exhibitions

After the opening night, the exhibition will continue at Autograph from 10 October - 21 March 2026. Book a free, timed ticket in advance, or visit anytime the gallery is open.

Supported by

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

I Still Dream of Lost Vocabularies is supported by The African Arts Trust.

Autograph ABP Registered in England no. 2285116 | Registered Charity no. 1127712

Images: 1) Banner image: Henna Nadeem, Circles [detail]. From the series Trees Water Rocks, 2004. Courtesy the artist. 2) Autograph, London. Photograph by Kate Elliott.