Page 93 - Antennae Issue #52

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would demand Without context context these images lose their power With With context context they become a a a a a a a a a a a visualisation of a a a a a a a a a a a ‘discussion’ between objects separated by a a a a a a a a a a a few feet and fifty years This speaks to to the the fallibility and and and and mystery of of of our memories and and and and how the the his- tory tory we create is is is often problematic and and and can fail to to to to to represent a a a a a a a a a a a a a a definitive truth of of of of events The The Pansy Project does not need to to to to tell every detail of of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a story It implies a a a a a a a a a a a a a violent event event through the the title of of of of the the picture The The intervention acts as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a symbol of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a story not always revealed and and and suggests that a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a place of of of of trauma can be acknowl- edged and and and transformed into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a location of of healing and and and activism JO: I noticed the the the picture you you took in in front of the the the White House during your visit to to to D D D C C “Don’t ask that guy – – he he he he he wants to to to to hang them all!” – – President President Trump comments on on on on on on the the the Vice President’s views on on on on on on on on gay rights White House Washington D D D C C is in in in in conver- sation with some of your other messaging on on on on on on on on social media in in in in in in response to to events and and policies resulting from rising nationalism across the the the world I wonder if if you you might comment on on on The Pansy Project in in in in this specific moment and and and also the the the future of the project and how you see it developing PH: Fifteen years ago I would would not have predicted that violence against us would would continue and even escalate Work like mine tells the the the story of of the the the battle of of preju- dice against us that many believe was won years ago There’s no doubt there is is currently a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rise of the the right-wing Our human rights are being challenged and violence continues Queer culture is is one success story From RuPaul’s Drag Race to to to to the the Oscar-winning Moonlight we must continue continue to to to to create a a a a a a a a a a a a complex and and rich queer culture that shares our our our stories with the the the heteronormative masses and and brings our our our communities together to to to to to ensure our our our hard-fought for rights are are preserved The Pansy Project is is a a a a a a a a a small contribution to to to to to this I I will continue to to to to to develop explore and and evolve my my my work I’m I’m currently making my my my photographs ready for for ex- hibition I’m I’m keen for for my my my pictures to to access the the the gallery and and museum There I I I can share our experiences of being queer on on the the the streets with the the the world Paul Harfleet is is is a a a a a a a a a London UK based artist who founded The Pansy Project in in in 2005 Over the last fifteen years his work has been included in in in numer- ous exhibitions and festivals The Pansy Project has been included in in in in multiple publications including Trespass: A History of Uncommissioned Urban Art published published by by Taschen Pansy Boy a a a a a a a a a a a book he he he he he wrote and and illustrated was was published published by by Barbican Press in 2017 and and was was short-listed for the Polari First Book Prize in in in in 2018 During the pandemic of of 2020 his work shifted to explore a a a a a a queer reading of of ornithology in in in in a a a a a a project called Birds Can Fly Joey Orr is the the the Andrew W Mellon Curator for Research at at at the the the Spencer Museum of Art Art where he he he he he directs the the the Integrated Arts Re- search Initiative He previously served as as as the the Andrew W Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow at at at the the MCA Chicago as as as asso- ciate editor editor for for the the Journal Journal for for Artistic Research and as special issue co-editor of of the the Journal Journal of of American Studies (Cambridge Univer- sity Press) and Visual Methodologies His writing has appeared in in in in in publications including Art Art Art Journal Open Art Art Art in in in in in the Public Sphere Art Art Art Papers BOMB Emotion Space & Society Hyperallergic Images Journal of American Studies QED Sculpture and Visual Methodologies