Wolfenden (2016) - Framed

The artwork comprises two separate screen-printed, hand torn pages. Watermark lower left corner of left-hand page. Each page 38 x 27 cm, four deckle edges (in an edition of 57). Signed lower right corner, numbered lower left corner. Printed on Zerkall 145 gsm mould made paper, cream smooth, using Lascaux Studio acrylic inks.
 
Wolfenden was originally commissioned by the Houses of Parliament in 2015
 
The Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, better known as the Wolfenden Report (1957) was the first British governmental report to consider the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between men, following a succession of high-profile arrests and trials in England. The report recommended that homosexual offences should not be illegal, as it was ‘no matter for the law’. During the committee’s sessions, homosexuals and prostitutes were referred to as ‘Huntley & Palmers (a well-known brand of biscuit), to spare the delicate nature of the committees’ lady members.
 
This work partially translates the two pages of the reports’ recommendations into Polari, which would have been at its height around the time. 
 
Previously exhibited: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Bury Art Museum, British Museum Touring (Nottingham, Norwich, Oxford, Bolton, Dorchester), The Herbert Art Gallery Coventry, Houses of Parliament, Listasafn Íslands - National Gallery of Iceland, The Red House, Aldeburgh (Britten-Pears Foundation), The Walker Art Gallery
 
Collections:  The British Museum, The Parliament Art Collection, The Walker Art Gallery, private collections in Ireland, the UK and USA
 
Unframed editions come with detailed framing instructions. All artworks are accompanied by a signed & dated COA.