
A Room of One's Own
Tue 28 January - Fri 4 April
Museum of Classical Archaeology
Mark Mann is a Norfolk-based artist who uses the seductive qualities of ceramics and textiles to explore queer identity self-expression. In this exhibition, inspired by the domestic interiors created by men in a time before the legalisation of homosexuality, floral prints, ceramic tiles and carefully curated upholstery weave through the casts, drawing out a history of queer censorship and public punishment. Together, the works use the visual language of interior decor, so often dismissed as mere window-dressing, to create a show which is equal parts beguiling and compelling.
The phrase 'a room of one's own' may have been popularised by Virginia Wolf, but the words were originally written by the writer Lytton Strachey in a love letter to the painter Dominic Grant, both members of the Bloomsbury set. These men yearned for a space which they could define on their own terms, away from the prying eyes of a hostile heteronormative world. In a time before the decriminalisation of homosexuality, domestic interiors were a canvas upon which queer individuals might curate their identity: domestic objects and decor offered a stage for queer self-expression.
'For this exhibition, I wanted to create a collection of works inspired by the bravery of the queer interior,' says Mark. 'The meaning for me is very much in the materials I use: I enjoy the idea that I use finely-crafted facades to conceal ugly realities within my design work.' The contrast between the soft furnishings and the hard histories they embody is deliberately disarming. As this exhibition shows, the classical body has long been a place for queer desire. But by bringing the classical home, Mark brings into focus how an aesthetic inspired and framed by the antique provided a locus for queer identity and visibility at this very particular juncture of queer history. And in this show, Mark's art ensures that history is no longer hidden behind closed doors.
Exhibition works are available for purchase through Gray Area Gallery.
Cost: Free
Enquiries and booking
No need to book.
Enquiries: Susanne Turner Website Email: museum@classics.cam.ac.uk Telephone: 01223330402
Timing
In person
10:00am-5:00pm daily from Tuesday 28 January until Friday 4 April
All times
Tue 28 January | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 29 January | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 30 January | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 31 January | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 1 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 2 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 3 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 4 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 5 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 6 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 7 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 8 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 9 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 10 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 11 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 12 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
TodayThu 13 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 14 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 15 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 16 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 17 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 18 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 19 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 20 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 21 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 22 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 23 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 24 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 25 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 26 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 27 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 28 February | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 1 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 2 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 3 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 4 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 5 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 6 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 7 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 8 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 9 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 10 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 11 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 12 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 13 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 14 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 15 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 16 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 17 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 18 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 19 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 20 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 21 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 22 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 23 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 24 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 25 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 26 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 27 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 28 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sat 29 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Sun 30 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Mon 31 March | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Tue 1 April | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Wed 2 April | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Thu 3 April | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |
Fri 4 April | 10:00AM - 5:00PM |