50 Years of Queers Content - Art

For centuries British artists have been including content influenced by queer culture and have created artworks which have influenced queer culture itself. Artist’s explore their expressions, interpretations, and personal views of the outside world. Queer art is no different, it explores how these artists express themselves in a time where LGBTQ+ acceptance is on the rise, but still not at where it must be; artists challenge the public’s view, and open their eyes to a world of queer life. This includes visually representing injustices, triumphs, heartbreak, lust, love, desire, insecurity, confidence, and identity.

What is happening within the queer art community:

Currently queer art is a prominent topic evident within the artistic world, being the 50-year anniversary of partial decimalisation. The two major exhibitions being ‘Queer British Art’ found at the Tate Britain, and ‘Coming Out’ found at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool. Both of these exhibitions explore the idea of movements in queer culture affecting the artistic world around them.

‘Queer British Art’ explores art in a time where there was uncertainty about the assumptions about gender and sexuality, the world around these artists was being questioned and transformed. In the light of such events as the death penalty being lifted in 1861 artists thought the public eye would be more accepting towards art inspired by the male form, justified by Greek and Roman sculpture. The works range from deeply personal to intimate works, which reveal a range of identities and stories, from the playful to the political, from the erotic to the domestic.

Some Key Pieces:

'Queer British Art'

Henry Scott Tuke, The critics 1927

Notes:

·       Typical painting style of the time, juxtaposing the two nude and semi-nude boys admiring their nude friend swimming.

Gluck, Hannah Gluckstein, 1942

Notes:

·       Meant to appear androgynous.

·       Breaking gender perceptions and visual links of femininity of the time.

Keith Vaughan, Drawing of two men kissing, 1958-73

Notes:

Recorded over a time of laws changing.

Illustrative and quick, could show the artist may not have wanted to spend to long focusing on the piece before the laws had changed.

Loose and illustrative, new style art for new changed

'Coming Out'

Women of the world unite, you have nothing to lose by cheese cake, Margaret Harrison, 1969

Notes:

Modern, colourful and bold, similar to the ideas it is trying to represent about women’s rights.

Different unique and quirky representing the public views of women’s rights at the time.

Positive and Untitled (Negative 2), Mark Francis

Notes:

Representing the links between queer culture and HIV virus stigma of the 70’s/80’s.

One is representing HIV negative and one is HIV positive.

Peter getting out of Nick’s pool, David Hockney, 1966

Notes:

Nudity and sexuality, evident in the visuals of the piece with is part of a series representing same sex desire, at a time just before decimalisation.

Modern and simplistic style, creating a memorable and lasting impression; the intent of which was to battle again public opinion of same sex desire and relationships.

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