The Pansy Project Blog

Tatty Devine & The Pansy Project

2011-10-18T19:25:00.000+01:00

The Tatty Devine & The Pansy Project Brooches are ready and available on Tatty Devine's website here! Here's the statement and description of this latest venture!

"Artist Paul Harfleet plants pansies at the site of homophobic abuse. Each location is photographed and named after the abuse received. The Pansy Project has many incarnations; small scale unmarked individual plantings, free pansy 'Hand Outs' where the artist speaks to passersby about the project, installations of thousands of flowers at the site of homophobia and exhibitions of the photographs the artist has made over the last five years. The Pansy Project has featured in festivals and exhibitions around the world and last year won a Gold Medal at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in the ‘Conceptual Garden’ category.

As The Pansy Project has developed the artist has often worked with large organisations from police forces to queer festivals to various voluntary organisations understandably all have had varying expectations of The Pansy Project and its role as artwork. Harfleet has negotiated and considered carefully various issues regarding how The Pansy Project is represented. A frequent request from many organisations has been the creation of some kind of badge, pin, or ribbon as the pansy appears to fit well within this charitable methodology; such as the poppy which honours the war dead. Paul was cautious throughout discussions regarding this issue as whatever badge, brooch etc created would simply be a pansy on a lapel and would lose the contrast or political edge the artist thought was most effective about The Pansy Project.

So when collaboration between Tatty Devine and ‘The Pansy Project’ arose Harfleet approached the prospect with eagerness and used the opportunity to consider how to incorporate written abuse within the proposed decorative jewellery object. Tatty Devine completely embraced the quirky edginess of this idea and have understood completely the motivations in creating this piece. The resulting collaborative brooch embodies some of the best qualities of The Pansy Project, it initially appears as a pretty non-offensive flower adorning a lapel or cardigan but on closer inspection quotes the most frequently hurled homophobic abuses; “Fucking Dyke!” “Queer Boy!” and “Fucking Faggot!” are all depressingly frequent titles of planted pansies but in the context of jewellery this quote can be worn with political purpose. The size of the piece enables the meaning of the pin to be gradually revealed when closely examined. This examination most likely preserved for trusted friends and allies is intended to create surprise and curiosity in the viewer who will then ask questions about the nature of the piece of the wearer thus continuing the conversational nature of The Pansy Project and its evolution as a method to explore the peculiarities of homophobia and its continued existence in society."

Each brooch was hand painted by me, so each is unique!!....

The Pansy Project / Discussion

2011-10-04T17:43:00.001+01:00

"Die Queer! Die Queer!Die Queer!" Birmingham

As The Pansy Project and Tatty Devine Brooches have launched I have as usual gone about the now customary procedure of utilising social networking to promote the collaboration. People seem to have embraced the element of subterfuge and narrative with the brooches which reclaim the language of abuse and enable people to show solidarity with people who experience homophobia. What surprises me is how willing people have been to play around with the roles suggested on the brooch, women bought ‘Queer Boy’ to wear and friends bought the brooches for their straight family members to wear as an act of solidarity.

Though the limitations for proper discussion through Twitter arose when Twitter@MsBathtub suggested she felt excluded from The Pansy Project due to her Bisexuality, what follows is a rather disjointed discourse due in part to my frustration with the limited characters allowed on Twitter.

“@MsBathTub ‘@tattydevine I adore you, but can we have a Pansy Project brooch for us Dirty Bisexuals?’

@ThePansyProject ‘ @tattydevine @MsBathtub The fun thing is that people of all sexualities have bought them of each slogan! This I guess is about solidarity!:)’

TPP ‘@MsBathtub it’s about opening discussion rather than identity politics, I love that a friend bought a "Queer Boy" Brooch for her husband! :)’

MBT ‘@ThePansyProject With respect, it's easy to say it's not about identity politics when it isn't your identity being erased.’

TPP ‘@MsBathtub I don't believe I'm erasing identities; TPP began as an artwork from my own experience. Making it a catch all 'abuse'….’

TPP…..’would demean TPP and the various experiences of abuse that many groups go through!.....’

TPP…..’I've been doing this for six years and have thought hard about the various issues that surround TPP! It's the discussion I like.’

MBT ‘@ThePansyProject You don't get to tell other people what their experiences are. I have discussed this with other bi people, and we feel .. ‘

MBT…..excluded by TPP. Whether you 'believe' you're erasing identities is beside the point. We're not asking for a 'catch all', we're asking that….

MBT….’an entity that supposes it speaks for the whole queer community to acknowledge a significant portion of it. To say that that would demean…..’

MBT…..’TPP is frankly insulting. You spoke of someone who wears a 'fucking faggot' pin even though he is straight. That reeks of hetero privilege…..’

MBT….’.and, while I applaud his solidarity, it doesn't work for the bi community…..’”

So that is what was Tweeted; looking at it in this way makes me realise that the points I was intending to make weren’t made very clearly, so I intend to do that here, as I think this is a complex and interesting discussion:

Primarily The Pansy Project is an artwork derived from my own experience as an artist (who also happens to be gay). The authenticity of this is extremely important to me; The Pansy Project’s role as a comment on homophobia is just one element of a work that utilises photography and installation to explore issues surrounding psycho-geography, urban art and the politics of location. I began to plant and distribute pansies to others who experienced homophobic abuse quite early on which was primarily embraced by many though it was at this point that some gay women suggested that they felt ostracised from The Pansy Project because ‘Pansy’ mainly refers to weak or effeminate gay men, however I felt that it was a close enough leap as the hatred expressed in these attacks is rooted in homophobia a description of which is below.

“Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the implication of antipathy, contempt, prejudice, and aversion. The term "homophobia" is observable in critical and hostile behavior such as discrimination and violence on the basis of a perceived homosexual or in some cases any non-heterosexual orientation. In a 1998 address, author, activist, and civil rights leader Coretta Scott King stated that "Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.”

(Forgive the Wikipedia Source)

As I continued to meet people and discuss the nature of The Pansy Project another issue arose; that straight people also experience homophobia simply for being perceived as a gay person. The point is, is that any person can experience homophobia at any time, whether they are straight or gay. It is the experience of homophobia I mark as an artwork; I do not intend to “speak for the whole queer community” I simply mark one very small element of human experience, an occurrence that unfortunately anyone can experience at any time, including it should be said bisexual people. I simply mark homophobia that occurs on the street by planting a pansy. I do not alter the action if the person is gay, black or happens to fall into any other group as so defined by society. This to me is the simplicity of The Pansy Project that people seem to appreciate. It is not the addition of so called identities that would “demean” the work, if I began to alter the fundamental methodologies of The Pansy Project to include people who claim a separate identity and therefore demand a separate methodology I would be diluting the conceptual clarity of my work. In my opinion it is this that would be insulting. The brooches titles were quoted from actual plantings I have made over the last six years, “Fucking Faggot!” being the most commonly occurring. This is rooted in real experience; my experience and others. I hope this clarifies my motivation as an artist. I am nothing more than that, I do not claim to have answers or solutions to homophobia I simply make work that I hope is good work and, work that opens up discussion.

From Queer to Eternity

2011-08-30T13:18:00.009+01:00

Paul Harfleet; "Matchstick Gallows" ; 4000 matchsticks, Noose (Photo Lee Baxter)

‘From Queer to Eternity' brings together David Hoyle’s De Profundis and Paul Harfleets’ Pansy Project, working as two disparate artists whose paths have crossed intermittently over the last twenty years in various contexts from Manchester bars and night clubs to theatre venues and the festival circuit. Harfleet and Hoyle are neighbours who pop by for the occasional cup of tea. They are friends who occasionally write, they are perhaps distant brothers who have lost touch. But remotely they have a fondness for each other and the way the other works, fundamentally however they both have a shared interest and engagement with the politics of gayness and its peculiar position in contemporary society. Each were born of a North West art school, both have courted drag / androgynous personas and both have engaged with political activism. These similarities however have created vastly different aesthetics and methodologies, which this show endeavours to explore and elaborate on.

David Hoyle

(Above David Hoyle; Photo Lee Baxter) In 2000 David Hoyle took to his blades at the Streatham Ice Arena and spectacularly killed off the Divine David. The persona he had created a decade earlier had established a unique position in queer cultural life, a sort of anti-drag act caustically lamenting the narcissism of the gay mainstream – ‘the biggest suicide cult in history’ – through song, dance, painting and whatever else took his fancy. In many ways he was an idealistic, even visionary, creation, although the constructive element to his diatribes wasn’t always the focus of the response. David Hoyle’s performance ‘SOS’ is more autobiographical and has been shown at the Soho Theatre, Royal Exchange and Sydney Opera House. His debut feature film released in 2010 ‘Uncle David’ has won numerous awards. For this exhibition David Hoyle’s De Profundis shows a selection of his ‘paintings from the edge’, the externalization of inner torment. The paintings explore the necessity of love in a psychopathic world.

Paul Harfleet

"Seth" ; Model Tree, Golden Noose (photo Lee Baxter)

For this exhibition a single photograph of a planted pansy (part of the artist’s ongoing Pansy Project) marking political homophobia operates as the starting point for research, which has informed wider exploration resulting in the visual representation of masculinity and punishment. The widely reproduced images of the public hanging of Mahmoud Asqari and Ayad Marhouni in 2005 in Iran have become an iconic symbol of the Middle-East's stance on homosexuality. The selection of images and objects placed here represent a visual narrative of capital punishment and culturally sanctioned homophobia from public execution to bullying. ‘Artist as a Boy’; subtly augmented transgresses the already troubling image of this half naked boy (Paul Harfleet as a child) and addresses the origination of the artist’s interest in homophobia.

Paul Harfleet "The Cranes" ; Model Cranes

Trucks and cranes initially banal and associated with childhood and masculinity here represent the modern Iranian use of them for public hanging. ‘A history of gallows’ through model making and drawing subverts the usual reading of hobby and invites contemplation of culturally sanctioned execution. ‘Matchstick Gallows’ is a scale model of a gallows made from four thousand matchsticks; matchstick model making originated as a pastime for criminals, in creating a model of a apparatus for execution the artist invites contemplation on the nature of crime and punishment. The selection of apparently innocuous model cranes is in fact a carefully sourced collection of model/toy cranes designed to promote brands which continue to supply Iran with the cranes that are used for public hangings for a range of ‘crimes’ from homosexuality to adultery.

Paul Harfleet is a London based artist who devised The Pansy Project in Manchester six years ago. Since then The Pansy Project has featured in many queer festivals across Britain and beyond. Last year The Pansy Project Garden won a Gold Medal at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and will be launching his collaboration with Tatty Devine in September 2011.

For more Images and Information click below:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185220094867563

CROWDFUNDER NEWS!!

2011-07-18T14:15:00.004+01:00

CROWD-FUNDER

Hello Dear Readers!!..

In a generous act of support Crowd Funder UK have suggested that I reduce my goal amount. This contradicts the usual rules of Crowd Funder UK but; "we love what you're doing and want to help as much as possible" this means that after much consideration and with a continued commitment to the rewards promised to all that have already donated which are outlined on my pitch I have decided to reduce the amount to £3500, which now means I am at 89% of my new goal amount (only £382 away) I think this will certainly enable me to get my publication onto your bookshelves, though with perhaps slightly reduced production costs and research time, unless I am able to gather further support from other sources.

Again I'd like to thank Crowd Funder UK for bending the rules in this way and a huge and heartfelt thank you to all that have donated, shared, and promoted my Campaign which ends on MONDAY!!!.....

Sincerely Paul Harfleet......

From Queer to Eternity

2011-07-18T13:55:00.003+01:00

I’m delighted to announce that I am showing alongside the amazing David Hoyle in August (preview August 26^th in Manchester) this two person show will showcase our practices, detailed below. “From Queer to Eternity' brings together David Hoyle’s De Profundis and Paul Harfleet’s Pansy Project: Working as two disparate artists whose paths have crossed intermittently over the last twenty years in various contexts from Manchester bars and night clubs to theatre venues and the festival circuit. Harfleet and Hoyle are neighbours who pop by for the occasional cup of tea. They are friends who occasionally write, they are perhaps distant brothers who have lost touch. But remotely they have a fondness for each other and the way in which the other works, fundamentally however they both have a shared interest and engagement with the politics of gayness and its peculiar position in contemporary society. Each were born of a North West art school, both have courted drag / androgynous personas and both have engaged with political activism. These similarities however have created vastly different aesthetics and methodologies, which this show endeavours to explore and elaborate on in this exhibition.” See more and tell me your coming on Facebook.

I am also approaching the end of my Crowd Funder Campaign, a mission to publish a book about The Pansy Project. I still have a long way to go and a lot more to raise, I’m choosing to remain optimistic until the very end, though I am aware it is a lot to ask from supporters of The Pansy Project. Whatever happens I am excited about the next few months which include the show above, my forthcoming collaboration with Tatty Devine and a series of new plantings across London which will coincide with the launch of the Tatty Devine Pansy Project jewellery line in the autumn.

So watch this space for updates and all news and of my Crowd Funder Campaign.

Pansies in Iowa USA!

2011-06-08T19:23:00.005+01:00

For Jamey Bruker, 1977-2006, planted by Kirk Stump

The Pansy Project has been going now for six years and has as you can see from the blog and website has had many incarnations. When I have given out pansies to passersby who then plant them in locations that they choose it is always interesting to see them become little memorials which are separate from my input. Recently due to my ongoing Crowd Funder Campaign (I'm at 17% with sixty eight days to go) I have been busy on Face Book and Twitter trying to raise the profile of The Pansy Project. The other day I noticed on Facebook that someone's profile picture was a pansy and commented on it. Kirk Stump then responded by saying that he had planted several pansies around Iowa In Memory of Jamey Brucker, his best friend who was murdered because he was gay. He told me that he had planted five pansies all over the city of Des Moines, Iowa USA. I asked him to send me some images and these are what surround this post. It's as ever terribly sad, but amazing that people from all over the world are beginning to embrace this simple action. It is fascinating that the image has in a way returned the pansy to the initial inspiration for The Pansy Project; the sites of memorial gardens, road side memorials and graves. Thank You Kirk.

"Get the Fuck Out of Here you Mother Fucking Cock-Sucker!", Des Moines, Iowa, USA, planted by Kirk Stump

"Gay Piece of Shit!", Des Moines, Iowa, USA, planted by Kirk Stump

Crowd Funder!

2011-05-23T14:12:00.006+01:00

(Above) Iris Robinson; “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children.” BBC Belfast.

Due to some recent computer problems I've been unable to update the blog! So here's to updating you with all the news that's been occurring at The Pansy Project HQ! I've been very busy on Twitter of late, managing to gain some 'holy grail' moments there. George Michael of Wham fame, kindly Tweeted about The Pansy Project which created a massive explosion of followers. It's really quite amazing, the power of celebrity, other big Twitter @mentions are just moments away I'm sure!!

I've also embarked on a rather ambitious quest to raise £10,000 to fund a period of research and development and the eventual creation of The Pansy Project Publication through what is known as crowd-sourcing on Crowd Funder UK, It's a large amount of money to raise but with all the rewards promised for your investment I needed to be realistic about what I can achieve! My mission is to create a beautiful book that presents all the photographs of the pansies I've planted over the last six years, I want to create a place for discussion and exploration about the nature of homophobia and the way I have made work throughout the last few years including the Gold Medal winning Pansy Project Garden I created last year with my brother Tom Harfleet at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010. I want to explore the forthcoming collaboration with Tatty Devine. I want to position this ongoing project within a wider discourse including psychology, politics, artistic practice, activism, guerrilla gardening and urban art. I of course need your help dear reader to spread this post through all your social media networks to help raise these funds! I'm optimistic I can get there, with your help. For more details on the pitch and how to donate click here, any amount will help, any amount will guarantee your inclusion in the publication!!..

I'm also currently working on the initial drawings for the Tatty Devine collaboration more details to follow on that soon!...and planning a forthcoming show in Manchester! More details to follow soon!!...

As ever my research continues!

The Pansy Project /Outburst / Vimeo

2011-02-14T12:20:00.000Z

The Pansy Project from Pixelbrix on Vimeo.

Istanbul

2010-12-06T15:18:00.007Z

State Minister Selma Aliye Kavaf ;“I believe homosexuality is a biological disorder, a disease. It needs to be treated”, Pera House, Istanbul

I have just returned to a typically freezing London from six days in an unseasonably warm Istanbul, The Pansy Project was invited by Homotopia Festival to embark on a week of research and cultural exploration culminating in an intervention at The British Consulate who generously supported the Excursion. As has become the norm, much of my travels with The Pansy Project involve the discussion and contemplation of the differing experiences of homophobia in the city both personally and culturally.

"Ibne!" Taksim Square, Istanbul, For Mehmet Sander

My interest lies in the geography of the urban environment and its impact on the experience of the city through the lense of the threatened city dweller. Just one of the highly knowledgeable locals who I met was Mehm,t Sander, whose insights and anecdotal evidence evoked a picture of resistance and activism against a political system that appears to accept rather than challenge the experiences of its gay, lesbian and transsexual citizens.

Istanbul like all cities has a complex position on homophobia; the Turkish government choose not to define crimes as homophobically motivated even if evidence suggests otherwise. Recently State Minister Selma Aliye Kavaf expressed her views on homosexuality; “I believe homosexuality is a biological disorder, a disease. It needs to be treated” a depressing opinion that has no place in a modern world. The Turkish police have been implicated in some homophobia and transphobic violence toward the relatively large and thriving transsexual community. As usual I have no conclusions to make given the inexplicable hatred of people connected simply by their sexual tastes, and identity selection which lies outside of the hetero-normative mass though as ever I am determined to continue making this artwork in response to institutional, political and individual displays of homophobia.

The intervention at the British Consulate consisted of several elements. Pansies were placed around the gardens of Pera House often in an unusual or ‘queer’ location; two thin lines of pansies augmented the garden of the Consulate and refer to the ‘thin red line' military phrase. A single pansy was planted on the lawn in front of Pera House the photograph of which as ever shows a pansy dominating the foreground of the scene; in this case the British Consulate decorated with the Union Jack is a symbol of British presence in Turkey and operates as support of The Pansy Project and Homotopia’s commitment to challenging homophobia in Turkey. In addition to the photograph and pansy lines I placed a window box filled with pansies on just one window of the building, an inexplicable and ineffective way of brightening up this imposing building, the oddness and ineffectiveness of this decorative object refers alludes to the apparently ineffective methodology of using planted pansies to fight homophobia.

Finally invited guests and representatives of various organisations including Amnesty International to another small line of pansies each attendee was able to plant a flower behind the next as if collectively preparing to march against homophobia. Jessica Hand HM Consul-General had this to say about the project; "At a first glance, all are pansies but each pansy is different from the other. This is how it is in the society we live in; though we all look alike, we are different from each other”.

It is perhaps an unusual position for an artist such as myself to be in; representing a 'guerrilla gardening' project within the walls of a consulate, but whether the pansies I plant are actual or symbolic locations each image is intended to communicate the same message, one of quiet anger, the micro memorial made epic through photography, a message of intolerance, of intolerance.

So amid the jostling crowds, Victorian trams and evocative sound of the call to prayer there was the opportunity to make new connections and solidify old. The hope for both Homotopia and The Pansy Project is to return to Istanbul where either or both can engage more publicly with new audiences. Istanbul is an amazingly beautiful city, filled with danger, threat and tragic tales of despair to stories of activism and resistance to hatred; in this respect it’s not that different from any modern city.

A special thanks to all those that made this fascinating trip possible, as ever my research continues.....

Outburst!

2010-11-16T19:19:00.004Z

I have just returned from Belfast where I attended Outburst Queer Arts Festival, I was there planting pansies at the site of homophobic abuse, as usual my presence garnered a flutter of local attention. I was pleased to work with UNITE and The Rainbow Project in bringing pansies to Belfast and handed hundreds of pansies to passersby outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday and I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of the audience who were touched and inspired by The Pansy Project; a boisterous group of teenagers gathered round my makeshift table of free pansies and they generously spread the word of the project to the their peers who happily galloped over to obtain their free pansy. Aware of the complexities of Belfast’s political history I was sensitive to the potential for challenging reactions to the nature of my work but as usual the reaction was completely positive. “Jesus loves you, no matter who you are” one man commented as he happily packed his free pansy into his bag.

Belfast’s complex history was revealed to me by the people I spoke with; stories of closeted work places, unsympathetic schools and tales of veiled threat and violent attack were garnered by The Rainbow Project’s ENOUGH campaign that asked participants to share their stories to help shed light onto the continuing experience of homophobia that has been demoted to footnote under the political regime in Northern Ireland, a situation so frequently true in complex urban contexts.

I also planted pansies at the site of abuse, thirteen in all, perhaps one of the most politically significant was the pansy I planted outside the BBC to mark the comments made by Iris Robinson; wife of the First Minister. The pansy entitled “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children” (top) was made whilst Mrs Robinson appeared on a radio show at the BBC in 2008 the comments led to local and international outrage. Significantly many of the plantings and locations I garnered through various channels were anonymous, whether this reflects the experience of gay people in Belfast remains to be seen but there were certainly more people who wished to retain their anonymity in Belfast than I have previously experienced. However The Pansy Project is an artwork, it is not an exact science so conclusions should not be drawn regarding the gay experience of Belfastians compared to other cities.

Another personally and politically significant pansy I planted was at Stormont in the shadow of the Edward Carson statue entitled “For Oscar Wilde” (above). Edward Carson was the Q.C. Involved in the Oscar Wilde trial and was also a descendant of my step-mother. Edward Carson cross-examined Oscar Wilde at the famous trial, a transcript of which can be found here. Though Carson’s importance has more political significance hence his statue being placed in front of the Northern Irish parliament building, you can read more on that here.

Despite the plantings and stories of abuse I heard in Belfast I am left with a sense that the city is mending, that Outburst is a catalyst for this healing; Outburst is bringing together a previously socially and politically fractured city to challenge the unnoticed homophobia that has occurred over the years and is demanding attention from Belfast to help repair the damage created in a conflicted city. The Beautiful friendliness of Belfastians masks the troubles that the city has become used to though Outburst Queer Arts Festival and the people of Belfast appear determined to address all forms of hatred whatever the motivation.

I heartily thank Outburst for inviting me to Belfast and for all the lovely people I met during my stay, you all made me feel so very welcome as did the weather that was perfectly dry, bright and crisp.

As ever my research continues.

Homotopia@Istanbul

2010-11-04T14:10:00.003Z

I'm currently in preparation for Homtopia's project in Istanbul; details below. I'm also keen to gather more locations of homophobic hate crime for The Pansy Project in association with Outburst in Belfast, So far I have a few but do need more, they can be anonymous if necassary. Also in other news you can see the speech via youtube below, I gave at the NO HATE Vigil in Trafalgar Square a couple of Saturday's ago.

"The Pansy Project

Monday 29 November to Thursday 2nd December 2010 HM Consulate-General, Pera House, Istanbul, Turkey

A series of interventions, debates and research in Istanbul, Turkey currently the European Capital Of Culture 2010. The internationally renowned and award winning Pansy Project will also feature as part of the week of events including research and ongoing development with UK, Turkish and Dutch artists.

Working with LAMBDA, Amnesty International and HM Consulate-General Istanbul the week long programme will promote the success of Homotopia International, developing new partnerships and further our inter-cultural dialogue with LGB&T artists & curators in Istanbul & Liverpool creating new platforms for making art, programming and cooperation.

Generously supported by British Embassy, Ankara Foreign & Commonwealth Office."

Homotopia Website

Vigil at Trafalgar Square

2010-10-25T13:08:00.002+01:00

On Saturday I was honoured to be asked to speak at the No Hate Crime Vigil at Trafalgar Square, I was amongst esteemed speakers including sister of Ian Baynham; Jen Baynham, Peter Tatchell and Stuart Milk; nephew of Harvey Milk. The attendance was down on last year but thousands braved the cold and the impending threat of rain to show their support in the fight against all hate crime. For those that missed it I'm posting my speech below.

Enough!

2010-10-25T12:21:00.000+01:00

“I have had enough of worrying about whether it is safe to walk the streets of London

I have heard enough stories about gay teenagers committing suicide because of incessant school bullying

I have heard enough reports of state sanctioned public hangings of gay men in the Middle East

I have heard enough about homophobically motivated attacks happening all over this country, even here in Trafalgar Square

I have heard enough mindless homophobia

I am Angry

But as an artist, my response is to plant pansies!

I plant pansies at the site of these attacks and hope that they become tiny silent declarations of resistance.

Perhaps the most poignant planting so far was for Michael Causer, in August 2008 Michaels’s badly beaten body was found in undergrowth on a non-descript street in Liverpool. Two weeks later he was dead. I contacted Michael’s parents to ask permission to plant a single pansy at the site where his body was found. They kindly agreed and wanted to witness the planting. It was a solemn low-key and moving experience which I shall never forget.

I was in awe of their determination to find justice for their son, their grace under pressure, their solidarity in grief.

I have planted over 10,000 pansies over the last five years.

I have had enough of planting pansies

But no doubt I will plant more

Though I DO live in hope.”

Trespass/Private Eye/Outburst

2010-10-14T18:14:00.005+01:00

I'm currently planning The Pansy Project in Belfast at the Outburst Festival, follow the link for more info. I still need some help with locations in Belfast, so please post a comment on this blog or Facebook or Twitter me, (links below) I will come and plant a pansy for you in Belfast! In other news The Pansy Project has been featuring in Private Eye over the last couple of weeks, firstly in what is called 'Psued's Corner' an area that apparently mocks the over use of pretentious language! This week a kind follower of The Pansy Project wrote a letter which Private Eye generously published, in it the project was clarified, so thanks to Private Eye and the kind writer! I have also managed to catch a glimpse of Trespass (above) a book in which I am featured it's a hefty hardback which explores the complexities of art taking place on the street, it's definately worth a look!...I've also been interviewed by Radio 4 for a show on Guerrilla Gardening which will be transmitted in November, I was interviewd while planting the pansy below entitled "Is You Gay? Is you Fags? Is you gonna get Married?!" Bow Church DLR. My Research Continues.

Outburst/Belfast

2010-09-09T15:39:00.005+01:00

I'm pleased to announce that The Pansy Project is to feature in the Outburst Queer Arts Festival in November 2010. As usual I need your help to find locations to plant pansies at the site of homophobic abuse. I will find the nearest source of soil to the incident then photograph the pansy and name each location after the abuse, each image will then be posted on my website. I already have a few locations in mind but if you'd like to be involved then please leave a comment on this post or join my Facebook group and tell me your story. I will also be handing out pansies on Saturday November 13th in the centre of Belfast so you can plant your own pansy (details to follow). Thank You all in advance for your help with this! In other news Homotopia in Liverpool have released this video below made at the recent RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show where The Pansy Project won Best Conceptual Garden and a Gold Medal! The video offers a five minute over view of The Pansy Project's History so far.

The Pansy Project Garden

2010-06-03T09:52:00.004+01:00

GOLD MEDAL WINNER & Best Conceptual Garden AT HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 2010

Above an axonometric illustration of the final design of the garden, a collaborative drawing by Myself and Tom Harfleet, and an image of the completed design.

Below is a description of The Pansy Project Garden with illustrations and a slide show revealing the whole process from design to completion.

The Pansy Project is an ongoing conceptual artwork that memorialises homophobic hate crimes, from verbal homophobic abuse to homophobically motivated murders; artist Paul Harfleet plants individual pansies to mark these locations of abuse. At the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July 2010 The Pansy Project Garden will feature in the ‘Conceptual Garden’ category.

Above and below some preparatory sketches that informed the design of the garden.

This challenging conceptual garden will combine the languages of horticulture and sculpture to metaphorically present the concepts ‘The Pansy Project’ explores to an audience outside of the projects usual context. This ‘infiltration’ of the relative conservatism associated with the traditional ‘Flower Show’ continues the theme of cultural subversion artist Paul Harfleet is fascinated with. In subverting the garden with a ‘disguised’ political agenda the artist hopes to encourage the visiting public to consider the ideas the artist has spent the last five exploring in the projects various incarnations, from notions of psychogeography, memorialisation, citizenship and the political ownership of public space.

The design of the garden is a first time collaboration with garden designer and brother of the artist Tom Harfleet, which in itself suggests a shared familial position against homophobic hate crime which enriches the reading of the garden yet further. The brothers have used their allocated five by ten metre plot to construct a confrontational concrete structure which references the pavement of the city; where the majority of The Pansy Projects activity takes places. The dramatic ‘shattered’ form reflects the disruptive nature of these crimes and has been influenced by the impact earthquakes have on the built environment. The slabs of concrete will be placed at various extreme gradients and will be under planted with a total of four thousand pansies. In the context of The Pansy Project the pansy has come to represent a quiet form of resistance to hate crime with each plant becoming a single device to transform a location from one of crime to one of quiet activism and memorialisation a significance which the design of the garden fully embraces. The garden in this context acts as a metaphorical memorial to the victims of homophobic hate crime and helps promote the notion that this form of crime is something that should not be tolerated in contemporary society.

Dearest Facebook!

2010-05-25T10:19:00.017+01:00

(Above) For Lee Harvey, Margate

The Pansy Project is an ongoing artwork; I plant pansies where homophobic abuse is experienced, photograph the location of the pansy then entitle the picture of the flower after the abuse received. What began as an autobiographical response to homophobia has developed over five years into an international project with thousands of pansies being planted in mutlitple locations across the world in a variety of contexts from single unsanctioned plantings to large scale installations created for festivals and exhibition, the latest incarnation of the project is the forthcoming RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July 2010. Last Friday I received the following e-mail from Facebook! "The group "The Pansy Project" has been removed because it violated our Terms of Use. Among other things, groups that are hateful, threatening, or obscene are not allowed. We also take down groups that attack an individual or group, or advertise a product or service. Continued misuse of Facebook's features could result in your account being disabled" When I posted this information on my Facebook status I received a huge response from many Facebook friends with offers to set-up a group demanding the group be re-instated this was kindly initiated by a Pansy Project supporter (Bring Back The Pansy Project NOW). The group grew quickly with many old and new friends of The Pansy Project expressing their dismay and confusion at Facebook's misinterpretation of the motivations of this work. I attempted to e-mail Facebook without response, so I am left to speculate on the reasons for the deletion of the group. Despite many members of the new group suggesting that Facebook had been motivated by homophobia, I remain optimistic, I can only imagine that the images posted within my group entitled after the abuse received where flagged-up by a computer program designed to note obscene language; language so regularly used during verbal and physical attacks on gay people; the language I use within my work to point out the veracity of experience many confront on a regular basis. The Pansy Project group existed for over three years and had amassed over three thousand members from across the world and enabled me to easily contact those interested in my work with news of forthcoming projects and activities. Despite the inconvenience and loss of information I should if this is the case thank Facebook for their intolerance of homophobic language whatever the context. However it is extremely regrettable that the many messages of support and stories from those that experienced abuse may have been lost in the ether, though I hope the new group may continue to grow and enable future discussion regarding the peculiar nature of homophobia but given this conclusion I will not post images with the most offensive of titles within the new group to avoid future transgressions of Facebook's 'Terms of Use'. Despite this compromise of the work I feel it is important to continue to enable debate supplied by Facebook's unique ability to allow protest, support and conversation for those of us that remain utterly perplexed by homophobia in all its forms. I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of those that posted information regarding my project on their own pages on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere, the new group has reached nearly a thousand members in a matter of days, so this organisational misunderstanding may have introduced The Pansy Project and it's message of resistance to new audiences and for this I am thankful. I continue to await news from Facebook. Kind Regards Paul Harfleet.

IDAHO / 2010

2010-05-17T14:54:00.011+01:00

On this 'International Day Against Homophobia' it seems fitting somehow that the largest project I've ever worked on becomes a solid stucture, from sketches and plans and models finally fluid concrete becomes solid, cast in triangular forms that will make up The Pansy Project Garden, once the concrete has been poured, we will wait until the individual slabs harden, solidify become real, ready for transportation to the site, we have been lucky enough to gain support from various sources (Stonescapes, Axtell and BNE Landscapes) that have assisted with this project helping in their own specialised way aid the building of this garden and indirectly help confront global homophobia! In other news to coincide with IDAHO, 'Enough is Enough' is a video made by LGF featuring Ian McKellen and Anthony Cotton, it's an interesting and fitting response to the ongoing dread of homophobia, somehow made more palpable with this new and surprsing political climate in Britain. Image/ Cardboard Model of Garden, Tom Harfleet, More Images to Follow.

The Pansy Project @ RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show!

2010-02-16T18:00:00.005Z

I’m delighted to announce that The Pansy Project is presenting a garden in the ‘Conceptual Garden’ category of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2010! This exciting opportunity is the result of an application made to the RHS which was devised by myself and my brother Tom Harfleet. Tom is a garden designer and was invited to submit an application; it was he who suggested we work on a design together using The Pansy Project as a conceptual hook for the garden. The resulting collaboration is intended to visually represent The Pansy Project and the work I have been doing for the past five years.

Thousands of pansies will grow within the crevices of a ‘shattered’ concrete structural form which is intended to metaphorically represent the disruptive nature of the homophobic violence The Pansy Project confronts and memorialises. We’re already working with BNE Landscapes on the architectural elements of the garden and over the next few months we will be updating the blog with news of our progress. You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ThePansyProject and http://twitter.com/tomharfleet we will be endeavouring to keep you updated on the building of the garden as it happens.

Backlash!

2010-02-12T14:26:00.005Z

It may appear that I have been neglecting The Pansy Project since last November when I attended Shout Festival in Birmingham. This is not altogether true I have been working behind the scenes as ever applying for various opportunities to highlight The Pansy Project and the activities I embark upon. I have been pleased to discover that The Pansy Project seems to be developing a life of its own being commented upon and interacted with without my permission or knowledge, strange how these things evolve. Though of course I am happy that something I started continues to develop despite my lack of nurturing. Yesterday I spoke at “Backlash? The resurgence of homophobia in contemporary cities”, this fascinating ‘UCL Urban Laboratory’ organised by Ben Campkin and Brent Pilkey as part of UCL LGBT History Month brought together thinkers from many fields all of whom had explored various positions and issues regarding the nature of homophobia; from Brent Pilkey’s study of the rainbow flag to the statistical analysis of a “Women’s experience of Homophobia and Transphobia” explored in detail by Susan Patterson. Every speaker had a unique perspective on the nature of homophobia, at the end of the day-long session Mathew Gandy summed up the proceedings. He succinctly proposed many areas that would be worthy of further exploration by the academics present, including “the discourse of tolerance”, the nature of symbols including the difference between the appropriation of symbols such as the pansy and the complexity surrounding the rainbow flag and pink triangle. Gandy went on to raise the death of Michael Boothe whose murder caused outrage in 1990 the subsequent public outcry acted as a pivotal cultural moment signifying a ‘C’ change in the polices attitude towards homophobia, demonstrated by the image of myself planting a pansy at the site of ‘Memorial to the Unnamed’ aided by a police officer. Click here for more information on the speakers and to view a podcast promised soon! In other news I’ll be appearing in Gazelland Magazine this spring published in New York, this ‘Love Issue’ looks like an interesting context for The Pansy Project to be seen in. For now, My Research Continues.

Thoughts on Shout Festival!

2009-11-22T14:48:00.008Z

"Fags!", Bullring, Birmingham, For Thom Docking & Ryan George

I have just returned from the Shout Festival in Birmingham, where I planted individual pansies for those that had experienced abuse in the streets. (images above/below and on the slide show right) In one afternoon I managed to plant seven pansies across Birmingham at various locations across the city, as usual the people I met that told me about their experiences had varied responses to their attacks from mild indifference to severe anxiety. Of course this depended often on the severity of attacks though one thing remains, total and complete bewilderment at the actions of the few that so viscerally affect the gay community.

I also placed 2000 pansies (kindly supplied by the West Midlands Police) along Hurst Street in Birmingham, (slide-show above) in a thin line slicing through weeds and road side verges the pansies where installed with the help of some volunteers, (some members of Pink Shield where amongst the helpers) who kindly braved the wind and rain! Alarmingly some of our party received homophobic and racial abuse whilst planting. As ever I remain perplexed by this behaviour.

"Die Queer! Die Queer! Die Queer! Die Queer! Wyatt Close, Birmingham, For Ben Whitehouse

Today the reality of homophobically motivated attack increases with the disturbing news of yet another homophobically motivated attack in Liverpool and the brutal murder of a young gay man in Puerto Rico, 19-year-old Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was found decapitated, dismembered and charred on the side of an isolated road in the city of Cayey. The perpetrator who has since confessed has claimed the “Gay-Panic” defence. “Gay -Panic” is a legal term where the defendant claims that he or she has been the object of romantic or sexual advances by the victim. The defendant finds the advances so offensive and frightening that it brings on a psychotic state characterized by unusual violence. This defence has been used as a legitimate legal argument and has had the effect of reducing sentences of perpetrators guilty of homophobically motivated attacks.

"Ginger Faggot!" with thrown brick, Off Bristol Road, Birmingham, For Kai Weston

Mercado's mother Miriam Mercado released the following statement following the harrowing news: “When my son told me he was gay, I told him, ‘Now, I love you more.’ I want to tell the world that hatred is not born with human beings, it is a seed that is planted by adults and is fostered creating a climate of intolerance and violence. We must change our ways and understand that anyone could have been my son. And I want everybody to know that Jorge Steven was a very much loved son.”

"Are you a Boy or a Girl? Are you a Boy or a Girl? Are you a Boy or a Girl?" Tesco, Hurst Street , Birmingham for Kai Weston

In this context the planting on Hurst Street seems all the more relevant as a statement against gay hate crime. My Fight Continues! Special Thanks to Pink Shield, West Midlands Police, British Transport Police, and Singletons Nurseries

Flower Power

2009-11-11T19:44:00.005Z

Marc Riboud

It is November 11^th a day when the symbolism of the poppy suggests that we all remember the fallen of two world wars. This well known Icon of remembrance is an evocative symbol which encourages the thoughtful to question the wisdom of war. I of course recognise the similarity with The Pansy Project and believe this adds to its strength as an artwork.

The difference however is that those young men and women who have and will die during global conflicts do so knowing the risks of their chosen career. This does not diminish the tragedy of such loss of life but simply reminds us how barbaric humanity still can be when ideologies clash. In my ongoing project I utilise the pansy as a marker of violence aimed at those simply going about their business. Over recent weeks there have been at least two 'high profile' homophobically motivated attacks a reality that still shocks the gay community. Ian Baynham was brutally attacked in Trafalgar Square in London and died as result of his injuries, a vigil was attended by four thousand people last week, a powerful symbolic show of solidarity. In Liverpool James Parkes an off duty trainee policeman was also badly beaten by a large group though thankfully appears to be on the mend.

Additionally statistics released by the police seem to indicate that reported homophobically motivated crime is on the rise, whether this is due to increased awareness due to the work the police are doing to encourage reporting or whether there is in fact an actual increase remains unclear. Some commentators have suggested that the economic downturn has had some effect, flailing economies it is suggested inflame the likelihood of crime due to the increased stress on society. Gay people it seems are just one of the groups that seem to anger the desperate and disenfranchised. Whatever the reality my forthcoming inclusion in the Shout Festival in Birmingham seems all the more relevant given the current climate of homophobia that apparently exists.

Despite my continuing interest in the peculiar nature of homophobia I am keen not to perpetuate the notion that violent homophobia is ubiquitous, I am just as interested in the complexities of social interaction generally as I am in the nature of homophobia, The Pansy Project simply reflects my own view point and experience. What has begun to interest me is that the welcome democracy of social networking sites like Face-Book and Twitter. Though potentially this could lead a casual observer to having a warped view of how prevalent violent homophobia is. Exploration of any Face-Book group that deals with homophobia, (mine included) could give the impression that all gay people are constantly battling violence from homophobes as soon as they open their front door.

Over the last few weeks with the increased publicity given to homophobia from the death of Stephen Gately and the reaction to it in The Daily Mail, the comments made by Nick Griffin on 'Question Time', not to mention the above brutal attacks I have noticed a subtle increase in my own caution and anxiety whilst navigating the city. It is this insidious perception that can become a debilitating state of being, the notion that the world is made up of violent homophobes is patently untrue. Subtle institutional and societal homophobia may be ubiquitous but I believe that the wider public's view on gayness ranges from reluctant tolerance to complete and total acceptance with violence and hatred still thankfully very much the minority.

So on this day of remembrance of those fallen at war I am considering the amazing complexity of the symbolism of a humble flower and it's ability to evoke thought and contemplation on a vast array of subjects from war to remembrance to homophobia. The above image appeared in today's Guardian Newspaper and seemed to sum up the often twee reference some have made regarding the 'Flower Power' of The Pansy Project though perhaps in today's context it makes perfect sense.

SHOUT! Birmingham, UK

2009-10-08T13:35:00.004+01:00

From Thursday November 19th–Saturday November 21th, I will be taking The Pansy Project to Birmingham where it will be included in the SHOUT Festival: “SHOUT is Birmingham’s first ever dedicated festival by and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender community. It is a bold and ambitious festival that will include arts, sports and politics providing lots of opportunities to get involved. The festival will attract LGBT visitors from across the UK, raising the profile of the city’s lesbian and gay community and changing the way in which we are represented throughout the city.” For SHOUT, I will be planting thin lines of pansies along various points along Hurst Street, which is currently Birmingham's cultural centre for the gay community and has also been a well documented epicentre of several homophobic attacks. I am currently collating locations and details of incidents that have occurred throughout Birmingham to enable me to plant individual pansies in specific locations. If you would like to have a pansy planted for you in Birmingham then leave a comment on the blog or post a message on the Face Book group. I will also be handing out pansies on the day of the installation for those that would like to plant their own pansy. Further details of activities I'm taking part as part of the festival will follow soon!

An Anniversary Message

2009-07-31T13:03:00.007+01:00

It is one year since the death of Michael Causer a young 18 year old gay man from Liverpool, killed simply because of his sexuality. Anniversaries can be a searingly painful experience for those bereft. Our man made delineation of time is a clumsy tool that helps divide our days and organise our world, however the seasonal changes on our planet locate our experience of time in a profoundly natural way, as familiar scents and sites evoke memories associated with past summers and springs inevitable associations arise, perhaps positive reveries of nostalgia for simpler times come to the fore though for some tragic connotations of lost loves are too painful to bare.

A Pansy Planted for Michael Causer 1989-2008

In my work with the Causer family I have been struck by their reluctant acceptance of this tragedy and their determination to promote Michael as a loved and treasured family member. A tragedy can occasionally jettison the 'victim' into martyrdom, the Causers have resisted such temptation and have painted this young and vivacious man as a normal member of society. The world wide coverage of the story has secured his name as another on a long and horrific list of those murdered for their sexual preference, and as long as The Pansy Project exists it shall help combat this reality in every way possible. My thoughts are as ever with the Causers who have embodied a humble and steadfast determination throughout this last year.

Much Love Paul Harfleet

The Pansy Project

For those able to attend there is a memorial on Sunday August 2nd:

"Please join us on the first anniversary of the death of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer at the Memorial Stone to all victims of persecution in St Johns Gardens (behind St. Georges Hall) Liverpool on Sunday 2nd August. We're meeting at 12.00 noon, and at 12.30, one year on from the exact moment of Michael's death, there will be a minute's silence, and friends and family will be invited to speak about Michael, and what he meant to them. Afterwards, we walk along Victoria Street to the Gay Quarter."

"A Thin 'Pink' Line"

2009-05-20T21:30:00.008+01:00

Today with the support of Homotopia and The Merseyside Police I went to the family home of the Causers to plant pansies. Various locations were suggested over the last few weeks though eventually it was seen as most appropriate to plant them at Michael's childhood home. As usual I wanted to plant them in a thin line delineating an architectural feature, in this case the front garden path. I have used this similar technique in many locations, I realised that I've not fully explained why:

I see the individual plantings I make as elegiac symbols of resistance, solitary markers of an incident, sometimes relatively minor, occasionally truly horrific. In the case of larger plantings I feel that a line of thousands of pansies offers a powerful manifestation of The Pansy Project, with large plantings help is welcome and enables a community the chance to show solidarity. Usually these installations occur in municipal locations as in 'Memorial to the Unnamed' (below). Though in transferring the intervention to a domestic scale The Pansy Project becomes a personalised memorial. The Causer Family welcomed me into their home today, amongst the usual domestic detritus and décor, memorials nestle. In one corner of the living room is a large photo of Michael surrounded by flowers and candles; an alter to a lost son. My humble contribution was to plant a line of large lilac and purple pansies along the garden path in a tightly packed line in the front garden (above). This unusual method of planting augments the subtle language of gardening and for me transforms the pansies from regular garden favourite to a potent statement against homophobia.

Somewhat bizarrely this method of planting came to me in a dream. In 2005 when I was first asked to work with many pansies I was invited to place two thousand blooms outside Manchester Gallery in association with queerupnorth. Many helpers arrived at the site, laden with pansies and they looked to me for supervision. Initially they were placed in a rectangle and looked dull and lifeless, despite their zinging pinkness. Fortunately I was able to postpone the placing of the pansies until the next day. That night I dreamt of bloody battles and men at war, struggling over trenches and storming the enemy, I awoke with the phrase “thin red line” swirling around my head. The problem was solved, I saw the pansies could act as a thin 'pink' line. The metaphor seemed appropriate as each pansy became a platoon member, every one a potential sentinel in the battle to confront homophobia.

And so today the childhood home of Michael Causer became a location of solidarity and community spirit. Family and friends, neighbours and various representatives of the Police Force and community groups all gathered to plant pansies, to remember and discuss the realities of contemporary homophobia and its effects on all it touches. My thanks to all that attended and especially to the Causer clan who seem to embody the phrase 'grace under pressure'.

My research continues.....

Homotopia TV - A Pansy for Michael Causer

2009-05-19T14:29:00.000+01:00

The Pansy Project } Family

2009-05-03T15:51:00.007+01:00

"POOF!" Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen, planted by Theone Tait for Stuart O'Neill

On April 22nd 2009 Pink News reported that Stuart O'Neill had received homophobic abuse from his own Mother; “Celia Duncan, from Aberdeen was fined £250 for shouting homophobic abuse at her 16 year old son. Duncan admitted breaching the peace by screaming expletives and allegedly calling Stuart and his boyfriend "poofs" after she caught the pair holding hands. Duncan also admitted to sending abusive text messages. Stuart told the BBC: "I feel really betrayed by my mum. What she said to me was vile and hurtful. "My mum didn't like the fact I was gay. "She told me to stop being gay or get out of Aberdeen. She basically threw me out of the house." Cecilia Dyckhoff, prosecuting told the court: "The complainer was walking with his friend on Back Hilton Road when he saw Miss Duncan's car going past, brake suddenly, turn round and stop. "He knew it was her car and started to run away. He and his friend climbed a wall and ran through a wood and the accused chased him shouting at them, making homophobic remarks." The court was told she left a voice-mail saying: "I will get you, believe me, and you will get your head kicked in." This was followed by a text message that said "I will get you and your poof." the story continues here.

Some of the 3000 pansies planted for David Morley on The South Bank as part of LLGFF

My own mother lives near Aberdeen so I asked if she would plant a pansy at the site, she agreed to and the above photograph is documentation of the planting. This action extends the reading of the gesture that The Pansy Project is and infuses it with notions of family reparation. This particular road side is now not simply a location associated with familial disquiet and confrontation but has become a site for family collaboration and support in this case with my own mother. This perhaps contributes to balancing the still real experience many people live through when coming out as gay. I have personally been fortunate with my own family as they have collaborated with me in different ways. My step-mother is a gardener and helped project manage my contribution to the LLGFF a couple of years ago. We even managed to get a couple of my sisters (Harriet and Chloe) to help with the pansy plantings one cold morning in April 2007. Yet more family attended the 'Pansy Give Away' on the South Bank, My nephew, Charlie (8 at the time) excitedly helped water the pansies ready for distribution to the public.

The recent planting for Michael Causer that continues to reverberate through my consciousness crystallises the position gay people have within families, Michael was loved by his Mother and Father and extended family and so are many other gay people irrespective of their sexuality. Though sadly this is not a universal experience, from the real and terrifying fear of rejection that comes with 'coming out' to ones own family to the reality of governmental criminalisation of homosexuality, globally and locally it is still socially challenging to be openly gay. I hope that The Pansy Project in some small way helps reflect the communal intolerance of homophobia and I am happy that it can demonstrate the potential for familial support. My Research Continues....

News!

2009-04-23T18:58:00.006+01:00

For Michael Causer, 1989-2008, Liverpool

As I continue to process the planting of Michael Causer's pansy I have been pleased with the level of publicity the gesture has generated. Below are a series of links to on-line magazines that have mentioned The Pansy Project and Michael Causer.

Pink News

Liverpool Echo

City Life

Also Richard Reynolds in his own quest to promote Guerrilla Gardening mentioned The Pansy Project during his lecture on BBC Radio 3

I have continued to explore Twitter which is proving quite useful for promoting the project and learning of other homophobically motivated crimes and incidents which so rarely feature in mainstream news. A couple of recent stories have struck me; 11 year old Carl Walker-Hoover, of Massachusetts US, killed himself last week after suffering months of homophobic bullying at school. He did not identify as gay but was verbally and physically abused by classmates 'A Day of Silence' in the US spread awareness of the story.

Also in Scotland the 16 year old, Stuart O'Neill was verbally attacked in Aberdeen by his own Mother, Celia Duncan reportedly called her son and his companion “Poofs!” in the street and later sent text messages proclaiming, “I'll get you and your Poof!”. Stuart O'Neill's Mother was fined £250. The attack was apparently ignited when O'Neill's mother spotted her son and his friend holding hands. Which is topical in light of a new project started in London by David Watkins, 'A Day in Hand' is intended to raise awareness and acceptance of same sex displays of public affection. A subject I explored a couple of years ago with Age Concern and LGYM as part of queerupnorth, here is a link to 'A Day in Hand' which launches on May 17^th IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia). I am currently awaiting confirmation of an event to coincide with IDAHO, updates to follow!

A Pansy for Michael Causer.....

2009-04-12T20:11:00.009+01:00

For Michael Causer, 1989-2008, Tarbock Road, Liverpool

As previously promised I planted a pansy for Michael Causer this week. I spoke to Michael's mother Marie Causer the day before the planting, to get her blessing and to explain to her the nature of The Pansy Project. I devised the project nearly five years ago and this has been the most intense and emotional week. We met on Tarbock Road, Huyton, Liverpool where Michael's battered body was unceremoniously dumped by his killers last July, thought provoking and moving for me and surely harrowing for Michael's parents, we sombrely stood metres from where Michael Causer was discovered. The Causers revealed details about the case in hushed tones, and as we stared at the mundane corner of abandoned flower beds and undergrowth, littered with functionless posts and inexplicable barbed wire I selected a position for Michael's pansy. I knelt amongst the dirt and weeds and carefully placed it where I felt it would flourish. I stopped and we spoke a little more, we looked on, the tiny lilac flower zinged against the feral daffodils and wasteland. We looked on. We discussed our shared battle to combat homophobia, Michael's parents hoped that this would never happen to another family. I nodded supportively hoping for the same though knowing I had more pansies to plant; for others and myself. I took photographs, we looked on and I gave Marie a pansy the darkest of purple to plant in their garden, she had described the garden to me the day previously, a small corner for Michael. “He loved flowers”, she said. We shook hands, they thanked me and we parted, I turned back to see the pansy vulnerably nestled in the flower bed, and hoped it would survive, at least for a while.

"You Fucking Queer Cunt!" For Scally Dandan, Whitworth Street, Manchester

Though Michael's pansy marks the tragic death of a young gay man at the hands of homophobes, others planted last week celebrate the ability to survive even the harshest of attack. For Scally Dandan I planted “You Fucking Queer Cunt!” Scally Dandan was attacked last summer on the corner of Whitworth Street in Manchester he sustained multiple injuries. His resilience and positivity is a credit to him and to those that are victims of the harshest manifestations of homophobic hate crime. And for Daniel Taylor I planted a pansy entitled “Batty Boy!”, homophobic abuse accompanied by egg throwing, a comparatively minor crime though still completely unacceptable and committed by teenagers.

"Batty Boy!" For Daniel Taylor, Exchange Square, Manchester

So I persist in memorialising a whole gamut of hate crimes motivated by homophobia and each is marked in the exact same way. This potentially endless repetition a tiny horticultural ritual intended to encourage a culture to question the reasoning for the apparently ubiquitous homophobia that goes on and on. Of course I have more to plant for myself and have heard of more locations lately, I will update the blog when I have done so. In the meantime here are a few links to some comments and coverage of The Pansy Project that have recently come to light. On Guerrilla Gardening Queer Cincinnati Santiago's Dead Wasp City Life My thoughts are with Michael Causer's loved ones, having met his parents I could see that he was loved and embraced for who he was irrespective of his sexuality. My research and project continues.

Spring } 2009

2009-03-27T14:57:00.004Z

Planted by Clara Lawes, Abbey Road, Brighton

Spring, a prelude to summer promises future balmy evenings and the city streets are once again returned to us to be enjoyed and consumed. I am momentarily elated by the lighter longer days until I realise that the evening sun exposes my transgressive presence amongst the masses. My burgeoning seasonal optimism has already been challenged this year as I have experienced two incidents of homophobia whist gaily traversing the streets. As the creator of The Pansy Project you might expect that I would be resilient to such public displays of homophobia, yet it is, and still remains a shock. When a car full of men yell “Queer Bastard! You Fucking Queer Bastard!” I still recoil with a combination of fear, horror and embarrassment. I Immediately search for the nearest source of soil promising myself that I will return to plant a pansy - to resist, I attempt to convince myself that this is a protection, a defence.

In the five years since I began The Pansy Project I have spoken to hundreds of people about my experiences, the locations I have marked are seared into my memory, as are the names of the people who have been killed. With the increasing presence of 'social networking sites' like Facebook and Twitter a new context for discussion has emerged, like-minded people can gather virtually and explore the issues, offer support to bereft families and friends, with this a contemporary sense of solidarity is garnered.

Michael Causer's death last year in Liverpool is perhaps the most visceral example of this. His Facebook group with over six thousand members has brought together a community shocked by the death of this young man, beaten so severely that he died in hospital a few days later. Much has been made of the lack of media interest in this story, still even now many of my gay peers know nothing of the case. I have been contacted by various journalists and magazines to offer a view on the absence of coverage. I frequently suggest that the mainstream media believe that the problem of homophobia has been solved. The liberal left generally accept 'difference' though the majority of the public still read 'The Sun', which continues to demean and disparage the gay community, the mainstream still see gayness as a source of hilarity and reductive stereotypes are ubiquitous.

I have a platoon of pansies awaiting dispatch on my balcony, ready to mark the abuse I and others have experienced. Yet I am one man on a futile journey to combat homophobia. I have before invited others to plant pansies for themselves, I've asked that they take photographs and send them to me for addition to my website. This has proven to be a lot to ask from those with a passing interest, I dislike 'forcing' interaction, I believe the audience should want to get involved so have resisted asking too much from an already supportive group of people across the world who have showed interest in The Pansy Project. Though I fear my recent resistance to invite participation may have discouraged the few that may genuinely want to engage more directly with my project.

The image at the top of this page was not taken by me, it is a photo of a pansy planted in Brighton by Clara Lawes an interested member of the public who wanted to explore The Pansy Project herself. She asked if I'd planted any pansies in Brighton, I had not, I casually invited her to go ahead and plant one if she could find a location. She did and the image above documents the planting. I experienced a strange sense of 'Uncanny' when I first saw the image; I have planted thousands of pansies over the years, though could not recall the location. It is peculiar and heart-warming to suspect that others may want to participate in this way.

I now formally invite you to plant a pansy at a location of homophobia if you wish. It can be your own experience or that of a friend, you can do it alone or in a group, you can gain permission or not. It can be any colour (though I myself tend to abstain from yellow) when you have planted, take a photograph which in some way locates it in the place that it has been planted. If you have details of the abuse, this will become the title of the planted pansy, if you don't it can be dedicated to the person it's planted for. I would love to see the photograph, you can add it to The Pansy Project group on Facebook or e-mail it to thepansyproject@aol.co.uk. I will then post a selection on this blog and the website.

Perhaps you will plant and perhaps you will not, you may just feel that you could if you wanted to, and for me that is the point. I mark every experience of homophobia with a planting, though until I do, it is the potential of the planting that I think about until it has been realised, for me this is a valuable part of the process.

Over the next couple of weeks I have four pansies to plant, two for myself in Manchester, another for a friend who was attacked on the corner of Whitworth Street. And I plan to plant one in Liverpool where Michael Causer was left for dead. I have sought permission from a family member which has been kindly granted. I will post the photographs here when they are planted.

My comments on the death of Michael Causer are due to appear in an article on Michael Causer in next months issue of Attitude magazine.

My Research Continues......

Blackmarket, Bluecoat, Liverpool

2008-12-07T22:10:00.002Z

Last week I attended Blackmarket an art project by Hannah Hurtzig hosted by Bluecoat in Liverpool, each audience member was able to book half an hour with an allocated expert. I was one of these experts and spoke about Guerrilla Gardening and its connection with The Pansy Project, it was a fascinating and enlightening experience, it's always interesting talking to others about my work as new interpretations are often uncovered. In preparation I updated some of my research and came across a couple of interesting projects with some connection with my own ongoing work. Firstly there is an exhibition happening at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco entitled ‘The Gatherers’ the show brings together ‘a diverse group of practioners who combine art with cultural activism’. Also Fritz Haeg who is an architect and social designer, his ongoing project ‘Edible Estates’ transforms front lawns into public gardens. I was struck by his ideas on the notion of public space. As ever my research continues. In other news I've recently been interviewed about The Pansy Project the interview appeared on many websites around the world, the interviewer was especially interested in my thoughts on the recent death of Micheal Causer in Liverpool, making my appearance there all the more poignant. This appears to have generated an increase in numbers of my Facebook group which now has over a thousand members.

Best of Manchester { Exhibition

2008-09-29T17:44:00.001+01:00

I was recently Shortlisted in the art category of the Best of Manchester 08 award for my work on The Pansy Project, an exhibition of all the shortlisted artists is on at Urbis until September 28th. I am showing a small selection of photographs I have planted at sites of homophobia including the image below.

Above "Was willst du? Komm doch!. Ich hau dir eins in die Fresse!" ("Come on, I'll punch you in the face!") planted just outside the Sophie-Charlotten Platz U-Bahn, Berlin

“Organised by Urbis, led by Peter Saville and judged by a panel of industry experts, the Best of Manchester competition spotlights the work of Manchester’s creative professionals. There is no age limit, no hype and no rules: just the best creative thinking by the best creative professionals working in Manchester today.” Congratulations to Naomi Kashiwagi, the winner in my category, for more information click here.

Michael Causer

2008-08-06T13:00:00.003+01:00

“Michael Causer, of Whiston, died on Saturday, a little more than a week after being attacked. The 18-year-old was walking past a quiet cul-de-sac on Tarbock Road, on the morning of Friday, July 25, when he was badly beaten. Doctors at Liverpool’s Walton Neurology Centre performed emergency surgery in an attempt to stem the swelling on his brain. But police confirmed he died at 12.30pm on August 2nd. Detectives have described the incident as a “homophobic hate crime”.

This story acutely demonstrates the persistence and severity of cultural homophobia still present today. I noticed when discussing Michael Causer’s attack, that my friends and colleagues had not heard about it, somehow this violence had slipped under the radar of the mainstream news media. Of course gay websites and blogs and a formidable presence on Facebook has spread the word through existing networks and the local printed media has kept up to date with the developing story (at least on-line) and this is to be acknowledged.

Though despite the close proximity of Michael Causer’s murder to the stabbing of Anthony Walker, the mainstream news providers have not seen fit to give Michael Causer’s story similar coverage, the potential for local and national debate is obvious and has somehow been overlooked. In some preliminary on-line research on this media oversight I came across several other stories regarding severe homophobic attacks across the world that have occurred this year.

Stephen Scott

Leann Boswell

Eudy Simelane

Abdulrahman and Munye

Attack in Hartlepool

I am reluctant to say that the main stream media is guilty of homophobia though this discrepancy seems more than coincidental. This persistent omission could be read in a variety of ways; is homophobia so uninteresting to the heteronormative mass that attacks on gay people are not worthy of column inches? Is gayness still seen as a lifestyle ‘choice’ so homophobically motivated attacks are considered a consequence of these choices that lie outside of the ‘norm’? Whatever the reason the result is that as a culture we see that some level of homophobia is acceptable, tragically it is only when the worst cases shock us that our shackles are raised. I believe that all homophobia is deeply offensive; it is a terrible tragedy that Michael Causer has died as a result of the homophobically motivated attack though anecdotally it seems that many of us have had lucky escapes.

What has struck me throughout my work on The Pansy Project is the difference in which gay people respond to the experience of homophobia on the street, some wither, some fight, others run, though most accept it and move on. Determined not to let it ruin their lives, keen to brush it off as one of life’s inconveniences, this is admirable for those strong enough to fend off the bullying few. Though what of the people less able or willing to fend off two or three oppressors such as the Michael Causer case? What is clear to me is that homophobia is generally acceptable to one degree or another. From “That’s ‘gay’ that is!” in the classroom to a Chris Moyles jibe on the radio to vicious targeted attack on the street, every insult based in bias is utterly unacceptable.

My thoughts are with Michael Causer’s family and for all those who experience homophobia in all it’s guises from verbal attack and violent aggression to the experience of being unheard in a society indifferent to intolerance and injustice.

T.R.I.P. } ponderings

2008-06-24T22:33:00.006+01:00

"POOF!" Exchange Square, Manchester

The Pansy Project has just featured at the TRIP conference in Manchester. An exploration of psychogeography through a variety of lenses that seek to elaborate and elucidate the experience of the city from the viewpoint of a group of academics, thinkers and artists, the conference was largely made up of presented papers, discussions and events intent on reclaiming the city for a use that is outside the consumerist methodology that dominates the experience of most urbanites.

Culturally the place for extended thought and debate is increasingly liminal; the TRIP and LRM organisers were keen to create a space for discussion that illuminated the city. From the MMU campus where papers were presented to walks and events that took place on the streets enabling walking and talking to take place simultaneously allowing the interested few to discuss the complexities of urban experience whilst experiencing Manchester from URBIS to Britons Protection.

As The Pansy Project I led a selection of TRIP participants on a walk around Manchester showing the places where I had planted pansies, enabling people to witness the plantings at the various sites where I had experienced homophobia over the last few months, Chris Buckley and Maureen Ward also accompanied the group prior to their papers being presented as part of the conference. Chris Buckley was busy filming the activity for his ongoing anthropological and ethnographic research and Maureen Ward was on hand to eloquently contribute to the discussions that were generated from the other participants as they responded to the spectacle of me planting pansies on the street.

"Fucking Faggot!" Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester

As I somewhat bluntly explained the experience of homophobia to the collected participants; “here was where someone screamed ‘POOF!’ in my face” and here was where people shouted ‘Fucking Faggot!’ from a passing car”. I would continue to dig away forcing my trowel into the compacted soil at the base of various trees simultaneously engaged with and disengaged from the activity; my main focus being the planting and photographing of the pansies for my blog and website.

After the plantings we went back to Apartment to discuss the activity and to enable the participants to see some finished photographs pasted on the walls of the flat, the same walls I had placed photographs experimentally on three years previously. As I returned to the flat and saw the photographs pasted to the wall I recalled the thousands of pansies that I had planted across the world over the past three years from Germany to Iceland from Liverpool to London. From a singular pansy planted for Edgar Garzon in New York to the 2000 pansies placed around Manchester Gallery in 2005.

"Fucking Faggot!..Queer Bastard!...Bender!" Exchange Square, Manchester

As part of their separate research projects Maureen Ward and Chris Buckley collated material for the papers on The Pansy Project which they presented at TRIP; both were intelligent explorations of the issues The Pansy Project seems to reveal. From sited anti-memorial to cathartic ritualistic strategy both papers reflected on the nature of the project as a catalyst for discussion. Within the context of the TRIP conference the lack of position appeared to be problematic. It seemed to some of the audience that the reading of The Pansy Project potentially objectified the heteronormative mass as aggressor. An unfortunate conclusion, as someone who regularly experiences homophobia and who is forced to deal with this as an ‘everyday’ reality it is a challenge and symptomatic of the insidious effects of hate crime that one does not come to expect this display of hatred from innocent passers-by. The experience of hate crime attempts to transform the logical mind into one filled with fear and dread as is evident today in a wider context when the media comes to refer to all ‘Hoodies’ as yobs and criminals.

Academia also seemed to require The Pansy Project to adopt a position as potential solution to the problem of homophobia on the street. As an artist I see art as an ideal backdrop for the examination of these complex issues without necessarily suggesting a solution. This academic context has rightly challenged The Pansy Project and I intend to continue to research and consider its wider position.

The experience of the conference has encouraged me to re-examine The Pansy Project and to contemplate the development of it as an artwork. Increasingly the complexity of the project and its various readings tends to alienate me from my own work. On contemplating the various responses over the past three years I find myself thinking about what the project means to me as artist and as a citizen and my position within a heteronormative world that appears, at best to tolerate my existence and at worst wish me ill or worse.

As I consider these issues I am reminded of my own childhood attempts to beautify an abandoned path at the side of my house. Both the front and back gardens of my childhood home were overgrown wastelands, a source of embarrassment and shame, evidence of a troubled home-life that I wished to conceal from my school friends. I remember that on one particular day my mother began to tackle the approaching wasteland and started to weed along the side of the house, she had already trimmed a small patch of grass in the back garden choosing to ignore the rest which continued to develop into an abandoned mini meadow. I was keen to assist in this action as I saw it as a way out of intense domestic disorder. So I helped plant small annuals in the freshly weeded flower beds hoping that it signified change.

Amongst the wider context of the unkempt garden this seemed irrational at best, though from my current perspective it seems to reveal a personal need to ‘do something’ however illogical or futile to make my own version of the world better. It seems to me that any action is better than no action and in some way The Pansy Project does act as a cathartic strategy that prevents me from feeling overwhelmed by the hatred I come across.

I suspect that this may position me as aggressor or at least as someone not willing to accept the status quo. The problem for a heteronormative mass is that a single member of it does not want to be singled out as homophobe; especially if they are not, though one must be able to critique the mass in order to challenge it, even if it means alienating the ‘innocent’ bystander. Any minority’s strategy that confronts a majority is in danger of alienating its allies, though most would see the ‘greater good’ as long as they fully empathise with those that continue to experience injustice.

I continue to contemplate and welcome constructive comments!

T.R.I.P } Manchester

2008-06-20T13:23:00.000+01:00

"Faggots!" at 'B of the Bang!" Manchester

In June The Pansy Project will be included in T.R.I.P: Territories Reimagined: International Perspectives , a psychogeography festival in Manchester, 19th - 22nd June 2008. Maureen Ward and Chris Buckley will be presenting papers on the project and I will be hosting a walking tour of plantings across Manchester for more information click here.

Reykjavik Arts Festival 2008, Iceland

2008-05-17T16:15:00.013+01:00

photo above courtesy of Arna Runars

I have just returned from Iceland where The Pansy Project is part of the Reykjavik Arts Festival 2008. 'Journey' curated by Björn Roth is a joint venture of three art institutions in East Iceland. The Skaftfell Centre for Visual Art, Slaughterhouse Culture Centre and Eider Art Centre all presented group exhibitions. My work was part of the group show housed in the ‘Slaughterhouse’ Culture Centre in Egilsstaðir. In the continuing exploration of contemporary homophobia I presented ‘Hanged’ a new installation made in response to the recent controversy surrounding the execution of two teenagers. Mahmoud Asqari and Ayad Marhouni were publicly hanged in ‘Justice Square’, Mashhad, in Iran in July 2005 for engaging in homosexual behaviour. The following is the accompanying text:

For this exhibition the artist has created an installation of pansies at the entrance to Slaughterhouse, initially appearing to be a simple civic celebration of spring, the flowers take on new symbolism when the audience views a selection of photographs of pansies planted by the artist in London and Berlin to memorialise homophobic violence. In July 2005 Mahmoud Asqari and Ayad Marhouni were publicly hanged for engaging in homosexual acts. Subsequent images and video recordings of their hanging were posted on the internet causing Amnesty International and Human Right Watch to condemn the Islamic Republic.A small drawing taken from the many images that appeared on the internet is placed in one of the large rooms of the Slaughterhouse. The drawing process acts as a humanising strategy revealing the personal contemplation of this state sanctioned execution. Simultaneously the relocation of the image from computer screen to exhibition space enables the profundity of the event to be considered in a location once associated with death which has been transformed into a place of art and culture.

The exhibition preview took place on 17th May which coincided with IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia). The preview was attended by various luminaries including Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson the Icelandic President (above with me!). A special thanks to Curator and Manager of Slaughterhouse, Kristin Scheving.

http://www.artfest.is/uploads/Artfest2008.pdf

For more information on the festival follow this link

News } 'On Guerrilla Gardening!'

2008-05-06T23:53:00.005+01:00

I’m delighted to inform you that The Pansy Project has been included in the recently published ‘On Guerrilla Gardening’ book by Richard Reynolds. Pages 55-57 cover my involvement with the movement and the help that Richard gave me during the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2007 and includes an image of the installation of 3000 pansies I placed on the Southbank. It’s a beautiful book that covers all you need to know about guerrilla gardening and its many many incarnations from ‘illegal’ crop growing to neighbourhood beautification. Available now at all good book stores!

Tornado-am-Ostkreuz } Berlin

2008-04-06T18:45:00.004+01:00

Above "Was willst du? Komm doch!. Ich hau dir eins in die Fresse!" ("Come on, I'll punch you in the face!") planted just outside the Sophie-Charlotten Platz U-Bahn.

Pansy Project photographs (photo above and below) are on show at Tornado-am-Ostkreuz until the end of April, the selection of seven photographs show pansies planted at sites of homophobia in London, Liverpool, Manchester and New York. Volker Beck, patron of the exhibition gave a speech on issues of homophobia at the opening. I also planted a pansy to commemorate homophobia in Berlin, the above planting marks the location where two men were followed from Sophie-Charlotten Platz U-Bahn and badly beaten the two attackers were caught and charged with homophobic crimes this accompanying event was organised by the gallery and was supported by Maneo.

From left: Volker Beck (Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen), Armin Bergmeier (Tornado-am Ostkreuz), Paul Harfleet and Kay Ramczyk (Tornado-am-Ostkreuz).

Click here to see The Pansy Project planting in Berlin on YouTube

Homotopia Liverpool 07

2007-11-19T19:30:00.000Z

The Pansy Project at Homotopia:

'Memorial to the Unnamed', St John's Gardens, 29th Oct-Nov19th

'Pansy Giveaway', Church Street, Liverpool 12-4pm Nov 18th

More information below..

Pansy Give Away } Homotopia

2007-11-19T16:15:00.000Z

On Sunday 18th November as part of the Homotopia Festival I hosted the ‘Pansy Giveaway’: I was on Church Street in the centre of Liverpool distributing pansies and chatting about the project to interested passers by. The ‘Pansy Giveaway’ enables the public to become involved in the project. By symbolically planting pansies either at the site of homophobic experience or in window boxes/garden borders. The pansy is imbued with significance altering the ordinary activity of planting a flower as a way to offer support to The Pansy Project and the homophobia it comments on. Thanks to all the helpers and to the people who took a pansy to plant. photos Maureen Ward.

Mount Pleasant, Liverpool

2007-11-18T23:31:00.000Z

"Fucking Faggot!" Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, planted for Robbie-Lee Valentine

The pansy above was planted on November 9th 2007, proving that in Liverpool today homophobia is as present as ever. Though relativley minor compared to a physical attack this planting represents the persistant reality of contemporary gay experience making the 'Memorial to the Unnamed' (detailed below) all the more poignant.

Homotopia TV

2007-11-18T17:15:00.000Z

2007-11-18T17:13:00.000Z

Above is an Interview for Homotopia TV; an on-line TV Channel which is part of the Homotopia Festival you can see clips relating to other events that are part of the festival at homotopia.tv

Memorial to the Unnamed

2007-11-18T02:29:00.000Z

For the Homotopia Festival I have planted 2000 pansies in St John’s Gardens. Historically the park is a site for what is widely believed to be a homophobically motivated murder. This temporary installation’s title; ‘Memorial to the Unnamed’ releases the work from specificities, freeing it to act as a symbolic memorial for all who have experienced homophobically motivated hate crime.

The installation’s title also has military connotations which reflect the significance of the park as a site of impressive permanent monuments: public memorials to the heroism of those lost in battle. In this context the pansy’s transient and subtle intervention into this domain explores the disparity between the cultural memorialisation of those lost fighting for their country and the official invisibility of queer citizens killed on the streets of Liverpool and beyond. ‘Memorial to the Unnamed’ aims to instigate debate surrounding the nature of heteronormativity.

(photo above Maureen Ward)

Memorial to the Unnamed

2007-11-17T16:48:00.000Z

A huge Thanks to all at Homotopia, Merseyside Police and to the lovely volunteers who helped install the flowers. More photos will follow soon.

Some online press here and here.

Memorial to the Unnamed } Ponderings

2007-11-17T15:48:00.000Z

‘Memorial to the Unnamed’ (left) planted in a straight line dissecting the park. The line goes from the formal gates of the park ‘slicing’ through the lawn and formal planting of the park, though the paving and ivy planted around the formal planting stays intact. This refers to the complex hetronormative society that the park represents. The row of pansies appear to weave up and down through the park occasionally rupturing the architecture of the park and at other times surrendering to the infrastructure of the park. This metaphorical delineation both acts as a symbolic military front and as an arrow that highlights the location of the incident that occurred in the park. The line ends at a bench suggesting that the viewer sit and contemplate the nature of the work and the park the work is situated in.

Memorial to the Unnamed { Background

2007-11-17T02:24:00.000Z

The location for the installation I am planning for Homotopia has been confirmed I have gained permission from the correct sources and will be installing the pansies in time for the launch of Homotopia 2007. The 2000 pansies will be placed in St Johns Gardens in central Liverpool. The installation marks the location of a what is widely believed to be a homophobically motivated murder. The recent Stormbreak Report acknowledges the reality of homophobia in Liverpool and the tendency we have not to report verbal homophobia to the police. Stormbreak confirms that generally the community chooses not to take this crime seriously enough to report it and see verbal abuse as just a reality of gay life. The police do not corroborate this and are keen for it to be reported to them so they can allocate the correct resources to addressing this problem and the insidious effect it can have on LGBT people.

The location of The Pansy Project installation is of great significance to Liverpool the park is filled with memorial sculptures, plaques and statues that permanently mark the loss of life in world wars. For me the temporary nature of the pansy installation will contrast well with the more permanent memorials placed throughout the park. During the festival I will be maintaining the pansies in their location and will be distributing pansies to the public so they can participate in making a symbolic planting themselves whether it be in a window box or lawn border each pansy will continue to remind each recipient that as a culture we do not need to accept verbal and physical aggression from a small minority of a heterosexual majority. If you live in Liverpool and would like to plant a pansy to mark your own experience of abuse then e-mail: thepansyproject@aol.com

Paper at Tate Liverpool

2007-11-17T01:54:00.000Z

A paper on The Pansy Project by Maureen Ward recently featured in Tate Liverpool’s Research Forum; ‘The Art of Protest: Art, Activism and Oppositionality’. Using the Turner Prize 2007 shortlist as a starting point, the postgraduate research forum explored "political" artwork and asked of the participants whether the crisis of political engagement has left a vacuum that people turn to art to fill? For further background on the Installation see below. For a full transcript click here.

The Pansy Project - Berlin

2007-06-07T12:47:00.000+01:00

I am currently in Berlin for a month. I am manning a show taking place at Axel Lapp Projects; ’Meeting Point’ is showcasing the work of ten artists that have previously shown at Apartment. As part of the show I have chosen to show a pile of 200 identical signed and titled posters that can be taken by gallery visitors. The poster then acts as a cipher to spread the word of The Pansy Project. I’m using my time in Berlin to do some research on the nature of memorials in light of the amazing monuments that are all over Berlin. An interesting debate I have come across is the argument over the Jewish Holocaust memorial. The huge majority of victims of the holocaust are of course Jewish though other minorities where involved too, including people from Gay, Romany, Black and disabled communities. Apparently there was some discussion about enabling the memorial to mark the experience of the above groups which was accepted though it was decided inappropriate to allow the gay community to be included into this memorial. There are now moves to explore other options for the memorials of specific groups across Berlin. My research continues:

Monument - Denkmal

2007-06-07T11:52:00.000+01:00

Whilst visiting the Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park I was struck by the enormity of the space and by the position of the two sculptures of the soviet soldiers. Their bowed heads reminded me of the bowed heads of the pansies, as mentioned below the pansy was named after the French verb; to think = Penser. Interestingly the German for monument is ‘denkmal’ presumably connected with the German ‘denken’ to think. In reference to the pansy the connection that then came to be associated with ‘thoughtful’ or ‘effeminate’ men is generally seen as a negative trait; hence the derogatory term. In this context of national remembering the thoughtful man is esteemed and revered. As seen in the image below the nature of the project generally requires a viewer to look down and appear to be thoughtful whilst considering the work, this is why I chose to place the posters on the floor of the gallery (image above). In the image below the viewer is not seeing the pansies circling the bollard but his position makes him appear thoughtful. I’m interested in this appearance of thoughtfulness and its negative/positive connotations especially in relation to sexuality.

'UNERWIDERT' ~ Berlin

2007-06-07T05:53:00.000+01:00

Above a fountain that marks a change in focus in my research; for more click here

IDAHO 2007

2007-05-25T19:33:00.000+01:00

"Queer Fucker!" planted on Tottenham Court Road.

Ponderings!

2007-05-24T13:56:00.001+01:00

During the IDAHO event organised in association with Camden LGBT Forum ‘The Pansy Project’ evolved yet again; the way the Forum embraced the project and interpreted it in their own way enhances for me what the project is: A way of dealing with the constant hate still directed at large swathes of gay people.

After the plantings at each location Lou would read a list of the abuse that had been received in the nearby area; the information collated with the help of the police is testament to the veracity of the incidents that have been reported, as you can see on the main site and here on the blog. It never ceases to amaze me that people still feel able to express this hatred without shame.

However the way in which the assembled group reacted to the reading of this torrent of abuse was very moving a mixture of reluctant acceptance and restrained anger. The event and ‘The Pansy Project’ generally enabled a context for a response that seemed calm and gentle and as we as a group left each collection of pansies in the world I felt very moved.

For me it is important that the pansies are unmarked, if each pansy was marked it would somehow alter their reading; the queerness of them at the base of one tree here and there adds to the peculiarity of the work. It would alienate a wider audience if they were labelled an anti-homophobia statement, this way the work will gradually reveal itself to the curious passerby. (Above a picture of me photographing a pansy, and below Lou Hart reading the list of abuse; pictures Chris Buckley)

IDAHO plantings

2007-05-22T18:35:00.000+01:00

"Fuck off and die Faggots!" planted on Tottenham Court Road, in the shadow of Centre Point.

For the recent IDAHO event I was involved with a two projects I was delighted to be able to show a selection of photographs at Tooks Chambers. The opening was on the evening of the 17^th May and was an interesting event with some speakers and a chance to see 11 photographs of pansies from Margate to New York. The exhibition is open until July 13^th when a closing event will take place, including an auction of the photographs that will help raise funds for global charities dealing with homophobia.

Above a participant planting an additional pansy at Tottenham Court Road

This event was preceded by a planting session in association with Camden LGBT Forum. The forum had collated a list of 100 locations with the help of the local police. I and a group of volunteers then went across Camden planting 100 pansies at five locations which operated as a symbolic hub for the abuse that had been experienced. All the locations are viewable at the main website here are few more images of the plantings and the participants getting involved. Below is 'Gays the Word' in Bloomsbury the famous lesbian and gay bookshop, we planted pansies near to the shop to mark the ongoing spitting, graffiting and verbal abuse the shop and it's employees have experienced over the years.

IDAHO } Tooks Chambers } Camden LGBT Forum

2007-05-17T17:48:00.000+01:00

On May 17^th Tooks Chambers, ( 8 Warner Yard, Warner Street, EC1R 9EY) LAGLA and Camden LGBT Forum present Paul Harfleet’s Pansy Project as part of a two month series of events to mark IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia). On May 17^th Paul will be marking 100 locations where homophobic abuse has been reported with 100 pansies; one pansy will be planted at each site located across the borough of Camden. Every pansy will be photographed and placed on his website: www.thepansyproject.com.

This will coincide with an exhibition of photographs showing at Tooks Chambers the series of pictures mark where Paul Harfleet has experienced homophobic abuse in the streets, each picture shows a pansy which has been planted and entitled after the abuse received an example of which is shown above. At a closing event on July 13^th the exhibition will be supplemented by pictures taken during the 100 pansy planting event. Money raised from a subsequent auction will be donated to organisations that help the victims of homophobia across the world: JFLAG (Jamaica), Mozaika (Latvia), Aswat (Palestine) and GALZ (Zimbabwe).

Tooks Chambers was founded on 1st May 1984 at the height of the Miners' Strike. Much of the early work of members was defending miners wrongly accused of riot and affray. From that beginning, Tooks has grown to be a large modern and efficient chambers offering services across a wide range of civil and criminal law, but it is still driven by the profound belief in human rights and civil liberties for all www.tooks.co.uk. Camden LGBT Forum undertakes a range of projects designed to improve services for LGBT people in the borough, notably in connection with homophobic, biphobic and transphobic harassment and hate crime. The forum works in collaboration with the police and the council where appropriate to tackle problems faced by the LGBT communities. www.camdenlgbtforum.org.uk. LAGLA is the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association for England and Wales. Although most of our members are in London we have members all over the country. We have regular parties where members can meet other gay and lesbian lawyers and make contact in a social informal atmosphere. We also organise lectures, seminars and conferences. www.lagla.org.uk

BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

2007-03-31T22:30:00.000+01:00

The Pansy Project recently featured at the BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. An installation of 3000 pansies was situated along the Southbank; pansies occupied the newly renovated landscaping outside the Southbank Centre; initially appearing to be commonplace municipal planting the pansies began to delineate bins, bollards and bench legs from the Hungerford Bridge to Waterloo Bridge where the London Lesbian & Gay film Festival was housed at the BFI Southbank. This subtle intervention ascribed the paraphernalia placed along this famous promenade with unexpected poignancy, as the symbolism of the pansy is revealed the playful positioning makes way for an elegiac memorial.

The image above was created for the BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival by Nadege Meriau and features the pansy planted by Paul Harfleet for David Morley who was tragically killed* on the South Bank in 2004 after surviving the Admiral Duncan bombing. This collaboration between artist and photographer has created a beautiful image that enhances the original concept of cultural endurance thus making it an appropriate symbol for the festival as a whole.

*Though widely believed to be an attack motivated by homophobia a subsequent court case found the accused not guilty of homophobic murder but of manslaughter. The pansy was planted on the Southbank as a memorial to David Morley.

Pansy! For David Morley

2007-03-31T22:29:00.000+01:00

Here are some more images of the installation. Above the thin pink line of pansies outside Southbank Centre, over the next few days they will come into full bloom. The installation appears to be surviving the wind and cold weather, many people have voiced concerns about the pansies in these temperatures; they will be fine, I have known them to thrive after being covered by inches of snow.

The small tree, above and below stands out along the Southbank and looks wonderful with the pansies surounding it as does the bin; for me it is the oddness of the bins and bollards being trimmed with pansies that transforms the municipal planting plan into an artwork.

Pansy Give Away

2007-03-31T22:07:00.001+01:00

On Sunday April 1st I manned a stall of pansies placed alongside the book stalls near to BFI Southbank. From 12pm – 4pm I was on hand to distribute the flowers and chat about The Pansy Project to interested passers by. In donating the flowers to the general public, the pansies were transformed into symbols of resistance against homophobic violence. When planted in private gardens to window boxes the pansies have become entwined with the meaning attached to them, thus creating an anecdotal messenger of acceptance.

It was a lovely day, a huge thanks to all those that took the pansies and promised to give them a good home, and thanks to my lovely family volunteers who helped give out 1000 pansies to the interested passers by.

Guerrilla Gardeners

2007-03-31T21:08:00.000+01:00

The Guerrilla Gardeners are a network of volunteers who tend to abandoned council roundabouts under the cover of darkness. Headed in the UK by Richard Reynolds (Above) the Guerrilla Gardeners where the ideal candidates to adopt some of the left over pansies after they were used on the Southbank. A huge thanks to Richard and his volunteers who helped install the pansies and relocate them in permanent bedding in London (Below) and in Portsmouth. Photos courtesy of Gavin Kingcome.

BFI Southbank Pansies

2007-03-31T19:10:00.000+01:00

The pansies have been blooming in the recent good weather, and pleasingly they have not been damaged or stolen whilst the installation is up.

News

2007-03-31T05:11:00.000+01:00

Here's a link to an ASAP article about the Pansy Project featuring a podcast interview LINK and more news HERE, HERE, and another interview here on Artshub.

Southbank Centre - 100 Ideas

2007-03-24T16:03:00.000Z

I am participating in the 100 ideas series at Southbank Centre; on Sunday March 25th 2-4pm I will be on a panel that will use the 21^st BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival and The Pansy Project as a catalyst for discussion, we will explore issues surrounding gay cruising and the sexuality of the city, the modern flanuer or dandy in the context of psychogeography and the persistent threat of homophobic violence and what this reveals about the condition of contemporary masculinity. For more information and to book a free space click here.

The event described above took place yesterday, (image below, from left to right, Raymond Rogers (The Metropolitan Police) Paul Harfleet, Jonathan Keane (LLGFF) and Olivier Meyrou (Director of Beyond Hatred). Thanks to all those that came and contributed to what at times was a moving exploration of the issues that The Pansy Project and the film Beyond Hatred explores. It was great that the BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival working together with Southbank Centre were able to facilitate the discussion. More information on the event here.

The Queen's Walk

2007-03-23T20:23:00.000Z

I am continuing to plant pansies across the site at the Southbank. It is freezing and interesting as many people stop and ask me what I'm up to. It's always slightly sad as I can see the realisation cross the face of the public when I reveal that I am memorialising homophobia. The reaction has so far been very favourable to the project. Frequently people pass and simply thank me for my efforts possibly not aware of The Pansy Project and what it symbolises. Today I planted the above; it seemed appropriate to plant the pansies at the sign; enjoyable how the pansies re-contextualize the sign.

During the process of installing the pansies I had to tweek the original design due to works occurring on the Southbank that surrounded particular trees, this was not too much of a problem as I was able to plant pansies around other trees. Since then the works have moved on to the alternative trees; as you can see above the pansies are now 'enshrined' within these works, they also nestle underneath the temporary book stalls that have been constructed around the pansies placed around bollards (photos to follow). To me this is a fascinating demonstration of the urban 'machine' that forges ahead with apparent disregard of the complexities of human experience. Thus echoing the homophobia The Pansy Project marks. Homophobia itself distributed by the thoughtless who show no regard for the 'victims' they attack and subsequently the attacked are forced into disconnection from the assailants and the urban environment they inhabit.

Southbank Installation

2007-03-19T22:49:00.000Z

3000 pansies have been place at various locations on the Southbank from Hungerford Bridge all the way up to BFI Southbank. The pansies create a thin pink line in the flower beds outside Southbank Centre and then are used to delineate bins (as above) bollards (below), benches and trees. A huge thanks to all the wonderful volunteers; the guerilla gardeners, the BFI volunteers and my special family helpers. They assisted throughout the day braving the sleet, snow, rain and wind.

"Pansies will occupy the newly renovated landscaping outside the Southbank Centre; initially appearing to be commonplace municipal planting the pansies will begin to delineate bins, bollards and bench legs from the Hungerford Bridge to Waterloo Bridge where the London Lesbian & Gay film Festival is housed at the BFI Southbank"

Quote taken from the above statement, more images will follow soon.

3000 pansies

2007-03-10T15:19:00.000Z

Above the 3000+ pansies that have been supplied and are being cared for by Downs Views Nurseries in Chichister. The pansies have large dark pink blooms, they're going to look amazing on the Southbank. I've confirmed the design for the installation and I am going to be manning a stall on the Southbank outside the BFI next to the existing book stalls on Sunday April 1st, there'll be more details here soon.

The Poster Campaign

2007-03-10T14:41:00.000Z

The posters for the 21st BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival are all over the London tube. It is interesting that people rush by the posters as you'd expect, not realising the symbolism of the image. I like the similarity this has with the pansies I plant in their location and the fact that their meaning goes initially unnoticed.

London

2006-11-14T22:59:00.000Z

Above; a pansy planted at the base of a tree on the South Bank in the bottom left hand corner of image, as shown below.

I have just returned from London where I hosted a session at Transition Gallery; I gave out pansies and was able to chat to visitors about the project, so a huge thank you to all those that visited, I will post more images soon. The pansy above was planted by the Hungerford Bridge on the Southbank in memory of David Morley who was beaten to death by youths. According to police reports the attack was not motivated by homophobia, however David Morley survived the Admiral Duncan bombing and his death had a profound effect on the gay community so I was driven to plant a pansy at the location of his untimely death.

Transition Gallery

2006-11-14T16:02:00.000Z

An image of me at Transition Gallery where I was handing out pansies and talking to visitors, taken by Richard Reynolds from the Guerrilla Gardening Project, the project encourages people to take control of abandoned hedgerows and municipal land by replacing overgrown weeds with shrubs and flowers, mainly occuring under the cover of darkness. Follow the link for more information on this great project.

Admiral Duncan

2006-11-14T12:04:00.000Z

Whilst in London I looked for the most culturally significant incidents of homophobia, as a consequence I memorialised hate crimes of a serious nature. One of the most high profile was the Admiral Duncan bombing. David Copeland detonated a bomb at the pub on Old Compton Street in 1999 as part of a series of attacks aimed at particular groups; three people died and seventy were injured. I visited the pub and the nearest source of soil was two small trees planted in pots outside the pub. I decided to get permission to plant a pansy in one of the pots. The manager said I would be unable to as I would not be permitted to take a photo for 'security reasons'. It was suggested that photographs may be used for reconnaissance. This possibly over zealous policy reveals the level of paranoia that can be created by one mans deranged act, and perhaps could also attributed to post 911 world. However I intend to seek permission more formally to plant a pansy at the site. I have respected the policy and photographed the Old Compton Street sign above instead to illustrate this post.

"Margate is rather Queer...and we don't dislike it"

2006-10-31T14:07:00.000Z

The above pansy was planted for Lee Harvey who was murdered in Cliftonville (near Margate) in April 2002. Lee Harvey was lured into meeting the two attackers in Margate whilst in a gay internet chatroom, later he was beaten to death by the men near Dane Valley Road, Cliftonville, where I have planted this pansy.

The gay scene in Margate is very small and I have already met people who have heard of this locally high profile attack. My research continues.... The post title above features in correspondence made by Vivien Eliot (wife of T.S. Eliot) whilst accompanying T.S. Eliot during a spell in Margate. During his stay Eliot wrote some of 'The Wasteland''...

"April is the cruelest month,breeding

Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing

Memory and desire, stirring

Dull root with spring rain...

...That corpse you planted last year in your garden,

'Has it began to sprout? Will it bloom this year?

Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed?..."

The above extracts seem appropriate to accompany the Lee Harvey Pansy.

Margate

2006-10-31T12:43:00.000Z

The bizarrely titled; "You're feeling super duper! You take it up the pooper!" planted for Mark Taylor at the bottom of the High Street in Margate (The intended location was outside Woolworths but the nearest source of soil was a planter on the seafront).

Margate

2006-10-12T23:14:00.000+01:00

The Pansy Project Tour continues to Crate during a week long residency, I will be exploring issues of homophobia from a Margate perspective. I intend to meet local people to discuss issues related to the project, hand out pansies to others so they can memorialise locations where they have received homophobic abuse and to plant pansies at significant locations where abuse has been received. My findings will be posted on www.thepansyproject.com and I will keep the interested posted here on www.thepansyproject.blogspot.com. I am seeking people to meet whilst in Margate who are interested in contributing anecdotes and stories to the project. Please send enquiries and/or locations of abuse to: thepansyproject.aol.com

When: October 28^th – November 4th^th 2006

Where: Crate, Studio and Project Space, 6 Bilton Square, Margate, Kent, CT9 1DX

for more information on Crate click here

Margate / Ramsgate

2006-10-05T11:57:00.000+01:00

The above pansy was planted on Victoria Parade, Ramsgate in memory of Charles Hasledon who was murdered on 31^st of October 2001.

As described below the development of The Pansy Project has been my main focus over the last two years. The terrible reality that my research has revealed is that everywhere I go, gay related murder has occurred from New York to Margate and from Ramsgate and to London where I will be going next week. Though I have marked these locations in the same way to how I have marked verbal homophobic abuse I am sensitive to the problematic nature of this ‘like for like’ method. I have considered altering the colour of the pansy or acting in some other way to differentiate a murder from the relatively minor verbal abuse. However I have resolved that this would prevent the project from being as simple and as affecting as many people have told me the project is including a friend of Edgar Garzon a gay man murdered in New York. However despite this I always take the planting of the pansy very seriously and the memorialisation of a death is a more profound experience for me and I hope the viewer of the image that accompanies the post. I believe that the Pansy Project though an artwork simultaneously highlights and as a result helps prevent homophobia.

Please feel free to comment on this post as I would welcome any feedback on this particular element of the project.

News from New York

2006-09-12T19:34:00.000+01:00

(The above photo: "The Nigger is a Faggot!” planted for Dwan Prince, In Brooklyn.)

I recently came across a post on the blabbeando.blogspot.com; Andrés Duque the writer is a friend of the late Edgar Garzon for whom I planted a pansy for whilst in New York. Andrés Duque wrote some kind words regarding the Pansy Project, sadly he has also written about the murder of Michael J Sandy who was killed after being attacked by a group of young men in New York, this has happened since I have returned from New York which is heartbreaking; my thoughts are with his friends and family. Andrés goes on to discuss the number of people who have been killed and attacked over the years, Dwan Prince, Kevin Aviance included and reveals some of the campaigning that has challenged this as a reality, the site is definately worth a look.

New York

2006-09-12T19:32:00.000+01:00

I am currently in the process of touring The Pansy Project the beginnings of which are described here), my aim is to spread the word of the project and hope that people who experience verbal homophobic abuse think first of planting a pansy rather than being forced into some internal dialogue which in my own experience can evoke a sense of shame, anger, embarrassment and a profound sense of powerlessness.

It does not matter to me whether people are moved to act on the process of planting a pansy, it is simply intended to act as an internal strategy that is an optional tool to assist in the processing of this albeit relatively minor crime. Though the effects can be profound it does not compare to the physical gay bashing and murders that still frequently occur.

It is this that I eventually have moved on to explore as a result of my recent trip to New York as a participant of the Conflux Festival. My intended work in New York was to memorialise homophobic attacks in the same way that I have so far.

I realised that I appeared not to be a target in New York as I seem to be in Manchester. I didn’t feel like I was being mumbled about and didn't feel threatened as I frequently do in Manchester. I felt that this may be the case for other gay men in the city as it is appeared to more cosmopolitan and accepting. I embarked on some research, joining the New York Public Library and and began looking into homophobic attacks that had recently occurred to gauge the current environment.

I was disheartened to see a gamut of crimes that had been recently reported and there were some high profile attacks, notably and most recently a well known Drag Queen performer Kevin Avaince who had been badly beaten outside a well known gay club on 10^th Street; The Phoenix. The attack had received a lot of press attention, the crimeswere referenced in such a way as to lead an interested party to other recent homophobic attacks so I began to follow this trail of abuse through the New York press. The names and locations can be seen on the site.

Statistical information that accompanied the reports also revealed that in America verbal homophobic attacks had decreased and violent anti gay hate crime had increased. This acted as an instigator for me to explore these locations.

There were other significant cultural revelations appearing whilst I was In New York a high profile politician had ‘come out’ on the Oprah show and had got front page coverage in the local press. This still highlighted that despite the apparent developments and ‘tolerance’ of gayness it is still head-line news when a luminary of any sort is outed.

The other significant location that I wanted to mark was Stonewall Inn, I had to my shame only known of its name and understood that it was important to gay history but I did not know much of the details. So I took the opportunity to visit the location and plant a pansy to memorialise the importance of the actions that had occurred there and the activity the event had instigated to try and encourage others to learn more about it.

This response marks a development of The Pansy Project and as I continue to research and develop the work, in Crate in Margate late October and in London at the Transition Gallery, in November I will endeavour to use this space to reveal what I learn through the ongoing process.

Below, (left) speaking to a visitor to The Pansy Project session at the McCaig-Welles Gallery in Williamsburg, New York and (right), planting a pansy on off 10th Avenue in Manhatten for R.J. Supa. And top a Pansy planted for Edgar Garzon in Jackson Heights.

The Origin

2006-08-12T16:21:00.000+01:00

A string of homophobic abuse on a warm summer’s day was the catalyst for this project. The day began with two builders shouting; “it’s about time we went gaybashing again isn’t it?”; continued with a gang of yobs throwing abuse and stones at my boyfriend and me, and ended with a bizarre and unsettling confrontation with a man who called us ‘ladies’ under his breath. Over the years I have become accustomed to this kind of behaviour, but I came to realise it was a shocking concept to most of my friends and colleagues.

It was in this context that I began to ponder the nature of these verbal attacks and their influence on my life. I realised that I felt differently about these experiences depending on my mental state so I decided to explore the way I was made to feel at the location where these incidents occur. What interested me was the way that the locations later acted as a prompt for me to explore the memories associated with that place. I wanted in some way to manipulate these associations, In order to feel differently about the location and the memories it summoned.

I became interested in the public nature of these incidents and the way one was forced into reacting publicly to a crime that often occurred during the day and in full view of passers by. I had observed the tendency to place flowers at the scene of a crime or accident had become an accepted ritual and I considered a similar response. Floral tributes subtly augment the reading of a space that encourages a passerby to ponder past events at a marked location, generally understood as a crime or accident; my particular intervention could encourage a passerby to query the reason for my own ritualistic action.

However, I did not feel it would be appropriate to equate my personal experience of verbal homophobic abuse with a death or fatal accident; I felt that planting a small unmarked living plant at the site would correspond with the nature of the abuse: A plant continues to grow as I do through my experience. Placing a live plant felt like a positive action, it was a comment on the abuse; a potential ‘remedy’.

The species of plant was of course vitally important and the pansy instantly seemed perfect. Not only does the word refer to an effeminate or gay man: The name of the flower originates from the French verb; pensar (to think), as the bowing head of the flower was seen to visually echo a person in deep thought. The subtlety and elegiac quality of the flower was ideal for my requirements. The action of planting reinforced these qualities, as kneeling in the street and digging in the often neglected hedgerows felt like a sorrowful act. The bowing heads of the flowers became mournful symbols of indignant acceptance.

So my eventual strategy would be to plant unmarked pansies as close as possible to where I received verbal homophobic abuse. I would then entitle the location after the abuse and post a photograph of the pansy alongside the quoted abuse online.

What was originally an autobiographical work has become a project that has been embraced by the gay community, who seemed to see the project as way to deal with a shared experience as many members of the LGBT community have experienced bullying or abuse at some point. Events where I have handed out pansies for people to memorialise their own locations have been well attended as have sessions I have hosted which have been designed to introduce the project to a wider audience.

My research has revealed that the process of planting a pansy at the scene of these incidents alters the participant’s experience of the city. The memorialised locations primarily become a place where the participant has planted a pansy, not where an attack has occurred. This action adjusts the memory of each location which has the effect of overlaying the remembered event in the mind of the participants with a more positive association.

The website enables the images of the ephemeral acts to be collated and presented to a wide audience who can then vicariously explore the nature of the incidents. The juxtaposition of the images of the delicate flowers placed in derelict urban settings with frequently offensive and hurtful abuse creates a complex anthology of homophobic verbal abuse as experienced by gay people in towns and cities today. The humble planted pansy becomes a record; a trace of this public occurrence which is deeply personal and concurrently available to the public on the city streets and on-line.

When verbal homophobic abuse is experienced the assailant forces the unwilling participant to assimilate and respond to this public verbal attack; ignore or retaliate? The Pansy Project acts as a formula which prevents the ‘victim’ from internalising the incident, the strategy becomes a conceptual shield; a behaviour that enables the experience to be processed via the public domain in this case the location where the incident occurred and latterly the website which collates ands presents the incidents and operates as a virtual location of quiet resistance.

Paul Harfleet

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