Page 82 - Antennae Issue #52

Astring of of homophobic abuse abuse on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a warm summer’s day day was the the catalyst for this project The day day began with with two builders shouting “it’s about time we we went gay-bashing again isn’t it?” continued with with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gang of yobs throwing abuse and and and and stones at at at my then boyfriend and and and and me and and and and ended with with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bizarre and and and and unsettling confrontation with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a man who called us us us ‘ladies’ under his his breath Over the years I I have become accustomed to to to to this kind of of behaviour but I I came to to to to to realise it was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a shocking concept to to to to to most of of of my friends and colleagues It was was in in in this context that that I I I I began to to to ponder the the the the nature of of these these verbal attacks and their influence on on on on my my life I I I I I I realised that that I I I I I I felt differently about these these experi- ences depending on on on my my mental state so I I I I decided to to explore the the the the the way I I I I was made to to feel feel at at at the the location where these incidents occur However I I did not feel it it would be appropriate to equate my personal experience of verbal homophobic abuse with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a death or or fatal accident I I felt that planting a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small unmarked living plant plant plant at at at at at the the the site would correspond with with the the the the nature of the the the the abuse: A plant plant plant plant continues to grow as as I do through my expe- rience Placing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a live plant plant felt like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a positive action it it was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a comment on on on the the the abuse a a a a a a a potential ‘remedy’ The species of of plant was of of course vitally important and the the pansy in- stantly seemed perfect Not only does the the the the word refer to to an an an an an an an effeminate or or or or gay man: The name of of the the the the the flower flower originates from the the the the the French verb penser (to think) as as as the the the the the bowing head of of of the the the the the flower flower flower was was seen to to visually echo a a a a a a a a a a a a a person in in in in deep thought The The subtlety and elegiac quality of of of the the the the the flower flower was was ideal for for my require- ments The The action of of of planting reinforced these qualities as as kneeling in in in in in in the the the the street and digging in in in in in in the the often neglected hedgerows felt like a a a a a a a a a a a sorrowful act act Paul Hartfleet talks to to Joey Orr Andrew W Mellon Curator for Research at the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence Kansas Joey Orr: Before we talk about about The Pansy Project I wonder if you you might say some- thing about about your relationship with plants and gardening more generally Paul Harfleet: Before The Pansy Project my interest in in in in in plants was was fleeting As a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child I I I was was fascinated by the natural world especially insects and and birds This interest is is something I I I explore in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a picture book I I I wrote and and illustrated to to to intro- duce The Pansy Pansy Project to to to to wider audiences Pansy Pansy Boy tells the story of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a boy that loves to to to draw and and and write and and and is “potentially gay ” Bullied at at school he he he he he he he searches for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a solution: “In the the the the gardens of of Kew he he he he he he he he read for for hours and and and learned the the the the language of of the the the the the flowers ” Inevitably he he he he he he he goes on on to plant pansies around the the the the the school Whilst writing the the book I I I I had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a memory that was was remarkably prescient of of what I I I do now At our family home was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a neglected garden and I I I felt an an inex- plicable need to to tidy it it it There was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a path by the the the side of of the the the house with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a border overgrown with with weeds I I decided to to remove these undesirable plants plants Scuttling on on my hands and and and knees I I I I remember pulling the the the plants plants out of the the the earth occa- sionally being distracted by ground beetles and and and woodlice I I I I I recall I I I I I saw a a a a a a a a a a a a a a purple petal emerging from the the the the undergrowth It was was a a a a a a a a a a a a little little violet I I I I continued to weed preserving these little little cousins of of the the the the pansy When complete there was was a a a a a a a a a a a a border lined with lilac purple and mauve I felt a a a a a a a a a a a a a huge sense of of pride at at my achieve- ment as the violets continued to grow during that spring decades ago JO: Your work always begins with a a a a a a a a a a a simple statement: “I plant pansies at at at the the site of of of homophobic abuse ” From what I I know about the the the the beginning of of of The Pansy Project you you were were living in in in in in Manchester at at at the the the time and you you were were the the the brunt of of of homophobic abuse on on on on on three separate occasions in in in in in one one day one one with a a a a a a a a a a a a a boyfriend at at at at at the the time When relaying this information to your shocked friends you you realized that that many people were were largely unaware that that these were were daily experiences for for some Although the the the project has undoubtedly expanded to address other kinds of gender-based and and transphobic abuse its origin is rooted in in in your personal ex- 82 antennae