Posts Tagged With: Gay

Quentin Crisp

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Mark

Quentin Crisp Mosaic by Mark Kennedy

Remembering the great man, who died in Chorlton, Manchester, thirteen years ago to the day. Crisp was fearless and independent, and lived life exactly as he wished, with wit as his only weapon against a stark and intolerant world. Feted by Warhol and played by John Hurt (and serenaded by Sting but we’ll gloss over that – Gina X’s No GDM trumps An Englishman in New York any day) Denis Charles Pratt, as he was christened, remains an inspiration to us all with his defiant, self-serving individualism. A man who refused to acknowledge gender or convention, he was the ultimate free spirit.

Stewy's Quentin Crisp wall art in Manchester's gay village

Quentin Crisp on Canal Street by Stewy

Mr. Crisp has been immortalised by Manchester artists Mark Kennedy and Stewy. The Naked Civil Servant has finally arrived in Manchester’s Gay Village – let’s hope he decides to stay.

Version of Stewy’s Quentin Crisp

Categories: Art, Design, Photography, Random | Tags: Chorlton, Gay, Gina X, John Hurt, Manchester, Mark Kennedy, mosaic, Quentin Crisp, Stewy, Sting, street art | 1 Comment

Hunky Devil

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Mark

Warning! Clicking on this picture will take you to San Francisco in the year 2007 where you will be thrown into the midst of an insane street party. Click with caution.

Categories: Photography, Random, Travel | Tags: 2007, Bodybuilder, Castro, Costume, Devil, Envy, Gay, Halloween, Lust, Muscle, San Francisco, street party | 1 Comment

Freak Show

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Mark

Halloween has become such a big thing in Britain now that people celebrate it early.

It’s good to see that the undead can still manage to go to the gym regularly.

These two won the top costume prize for their sluttish rendition of Daphne and Thelma from Scooby Doo. They made my weekend!

Lucifer living it up.

Frosty angel.

This clown is down! But don’t worry – every day is Halloween in Manchester!

Categories: Photography, Random, Vibe Monitor | Tags: Costume, Cruz 101, Daphne, Gay, gay village, Halloween, make up, Manchester, mask, Scooby Doo, Thelma | 4 Comments

The 4th Candle Lit Vigil Against Hate Crime

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Mark

It’s that time of year again: Trafalgar Square in London becomes a sea of candles, comedy and choirs. Originally held in remembrance of Ian Baynham, a man who was kicked to death for holding his boyfriend’s hand in public, the Vigil is growing in prominence and has backing from celebrities, police and the Prime Minister. It’s the most uplifting and life-affirming experience, and if you’re in London, please go down and show your support. Thousands go each year, but the more people who attend, the more the world will listen. This is hugely important in the week that rabid right-winger Nick Griffin calls for homophobia to be decriminalised.

I made this short clip in 2009 and it shows you just how magical the Vigil can be. The soundtrack is an exclusive remix of a poignant Flaming Lips track, The Stars Are So Big, I Am So Small…Do I Stand a Chance? (It Overtakes Me) which I produced specially for the clip. I’m especially proud that this video was used to help secure funding and charitable status for the 17-24-30 No To Hate Crime organisation who campaign tirelessly for justice, human rights and equality.

Categories: Music, Random, Video | Tags: 17-24-30 No To Hate Crime, Candle-Lit Vigil, Gay, Homophobia, It Overtakes Me, Mark Wallis, remix, The Flaming Lips, The Stars Are So Big...I Am So Small...Do I Stand A Chance?, The Vibes, Trafalgar Square | 12 Comments

Shaking Pedestals – David Hoyle at The Tate

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Mark

There’s a cliché that people in designer clothes attend art galleries to appreciate the Greats, making worthy appraisals while stroking their chins. David Hoyle arrives in front of a Picasso in a dress made of pens and all hushed reverence is drowned by laughter from an audience who are eager to see the great works through David’s eyes. There are even a few clichés amongst us, caught up in the crowd and slightly bemused as they are swept along in a refreshingly surreal tour of the famous gallery.

“I’m interested to know what the girl who modelled for this actually looked like,” says David regarding the Picasso before us, voicing our own unconscious, secret thoughts. It’s this delicious rebellion against the unthinking, accepted perception of art that unites us all as we move from one piece to another.

“This one is very…blue,” says David, unable to contain his own mirth and moves swiftly on. “Next!” A Henry Moore-style sculpture is similarly presented. “I wonder if this piece came out of the kiln looking quite how the artist expected it to?” But this isn’t irreverence for the sake of it: David is an accomplished artist himself and goes on to do a painting of a member of the audience right before our eyes and donates the work to the gallery.

‘What does this make you think of?” asks David, indicating a plastic plant spray in a glass display case with what appears to be a selection from the B&Q gardening range. “Arts Council grants,” I reply a little too quickly. Scathing, hilarious and thought-provoking, David Hoyle himself is perhaps the most striking piece in the Tate. Crackling with spontaneous wit, he is an unpredictable splash of colour, the painted shaker of pedestals.