Dan Auluk
Dan Auluk (b. 1970, Birmingham, UK) is a British-South Asian artist born, living and working in Birmingham. He graduated with an MA in Fine Art from The School Of Art, Birmingham City University, in 2014.
My work begins with my own experiences and the things that have shaped me. I make digital drawings, videos, text, spoken word, and performance works that explore anxiety, grief, fear of loss, identity, and, more recently, queer joy.
For much of my life, I felt that different parts of myself existed separately. Growing up queer, British, and Punjabi in the 1970s and 1980s, I often felt I had to hide parts of who I was. This created a sense of disconnection from my Punjabi roots, from the wider British culture around me, and at times from myself. Over time, through self-acceptance and my wellbeing support work alongside other queer people, I have learned to embrace these different parts of who I am. My artwork reflects this ongoing journey. Making art has become a process of understanding and healing, allowing me to explore memories, emotions, and experiences that have stayed with me.
Through my practice, I explore what it means to feel different, to search for belonging, and to find connection and joy. Although rooted in my own experiences, the work considers wider experiences of identity, belonging, and the ways we understand ourselves.
Lived Experience
I have 25 years experience of working with and for LGBTQ+ people and communities around emotional health and wellbeing support, from 121 mentoring and wellbeing sessions, group facilitation, training and workshops to reduce isolation and loneliness; in the charity sector, NHS and Universities.
Selected Exhibitions, Projects & Residencies
2025
25 years (confetti), Summer Camp, Eastside Projects, Birmingham, UK.
1989 (video), Coventry Open, The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, UK.
Frames of Discovery: An Evening of Art and Science, group show at Centrala, Birmingham, UK.
2024
Co-facilitated a 1 day workshop titled ‘depression and brain networks - a cognitive approach.’ as part of the SMQB residency with Dr Maria Dauvermann from University of Birmingham.
Lead Facilitator for a 1 day workshop titled ‘creativity as self-care - drawing approaches.’ for SMQB residency.
SMBQ artist in residence for 2024 (July 2024 - Jan 2025) – University of Birmingham.
C0-faciliating a 1-day workshop on creative writing with The Open Minds Project, Bishopgates Institute, London.
Engager/Moderator for Flourish, a new platform for GBTQ+ men.
2023
My Punjabi Mother, Her Dog and Me (A stage play, scratch tested at The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham).
Winter Art Fair, STRYX Gallery Space, Birmingham.
The Quest Programme - Assistant, London.
Supersonic Festival Volunteer, Birmingham.
The Wandering (Short Film in pre-production).
SHUCK (Feature Film in production) with The Film Liberation Project.
Artist Talk for Homegrown, launch event at the new Jewellery Quarter site at STRYX, Birmingham.
2022
Open Screen Night, Castlefield Gallery Associates, Manchester.
Winter Art Fair, STRX Gallery Space, Birmingham.
BFI Network Directors Series (online).
Arts Evaluation for Foleshill on film project for Foleshill Community Centre, Coventry.
Sleep (2022) - Summer Show Reel - Eastside Projects, Birmingham.
South Asian Arts Collective Group Show, Asylum Gallery, Wolverhampton (Group Show, screening of Sleep (2022).
South Asian Heritage Month 2022, (online film talk with artist Asuf Ishaq discussing artist moving image).
South Asian Heritage Month 2022, SOAS University of London, (screening of Extremely Valuable Person and Mother by Asuf Ishaq).
2021
The Film Liberation Project showcase, Tin Arts, Coventry. (Screening of artist films, Sleep (2020).
Ikon for Artists, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (Group Show – screening of Extremely Valuable Person (2020).
2020
Looking at you and not looking down (Animated GIFs) 'falls the shadow' Router, The Wrong Biennale
Extremely Valuable Person, micro bursary for a new documentary from New Art West Midlands.
more at https://danauluk.com/indexcv
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