Harry, Tom, Jan, Jake, Brian and many more portrayed by UK based artist, James Robert Morrison, featureing in a portrait series named ‘There is never more than a fag paper between them’. Cover: Andrew and Ben.
“My work explores the memories of discovering my homosexuality, my subsequent choice to conceal it and the journey to an understanding and acceptance of it. I use a variety of mediums (drawing, collage, embroidery and painting) to create artwork that is playful in nature and communicates powerful messages by discussing this personal matter with an honesty and openness. ” James
About ‘There is never more than a fag paper between them’ series:
One morning on the bus to work I overheard a teenager talking about a gay couple in his class at school, saying “they never having more than a fag paper between them”. I’d never heard this term before and it stuck in my mind, making me think about how different things were for me at that age. I didn’t know anyone gay (single or couple), there were no ‘out and proud’ public figures or couples that I could look up to and school was an exclusively heteronormative environment due to section 28. What I did have though, was a collection of gay pornography, and I guess the couples in these magazines were the ones I had to look up to.
Sourcing imagery of ‘couples’ from my collection of gay pornography, pencil drawings are then created on fag (cigarette) papers.
The first three drawings from this series (Phil and Jacob, Leo and Brian, Andrew and Ben) were shortlisted for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2020 – the UK’s most important open exhibition for drawing. They were awarded a special commendation from the judging panel – Ian McKeever (RA, artist), Sophia Yadong Hao (Principal Curator of Cooper Gallery) and Francis Morris (Director of Tate Modern)
Artworks by James Robert Morrison @james_robert_morrison / jamesrobertmorrison.com
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