Dani Marti, Disclosure
CONVERSATION PIECE Visual artist Dani Marti explores gay men’s health and sexuality in his work. But it’s his recent experience of censorship at the hands of Culture and Sport Glasgow that has made him a political artist he tells Allan Radcliffe
D ani Marti’s new exhibition, Insideout, has been safely installed in the sh[OUT] Space at Parnie Street as part of Glasgay! Yet the convoluted tale of how one of the show’s installations ended up in this space still sticks in the craw of the Barcelona-born artist.
Insideout was developed out of Marti’s residency commissioned by the Gallery of Modern Art and Gay Men’s Health, exploring issues around gay men’s sexuality, intimacy and disclosure. Among the exhibits are sculptural works made from red PVC pot scourers, hand-sewn by volunteers from Mozambique whose lives have been affected by HIV. The works are suggestive of red blood cells, internal organs and orifices. Also on display is a video and sound installation addressing the reality of living with the AIDS virus. Working with Gay Men’s Health, the artist, who is HIV positive, invited men of all ages to reflect on their experiences of intimacy and coming to terms with their sexuality. His research exposed certain recurring cultural attitudes.
‘I began to realise that there’s still a lot of stigma about HIV in Scotland, and also around coming out,’ he says. ‘For many of these men this was the first time they had been given permission to talk about their sexuality. Glasgow in particular, is very Calvinistic – you know, let’s not talk about
emotions, let’s not talk about sexuality.’
The installation, ‘Disclosure’, was featured as part of sh[OUT]: Contemporary Art and Human Rights, the social justice programme commissioned by the Gallery of Modern Art, which also included the controversial ‘Made in God’s Image’ installation, an open Bible with instructions to write in it, which offended certain religious organisations.
Marti’s own installation features seven people talking about their HIV status, including a video entitled ‘Time is the Fire’, which features a former male prostitute and porn actor discussing taking crystal meth and taking part in intense sexual acts. Following the controversy surrounding ‘Made in God’s Image’ this and another video, ‘Ausmusdad’, which features full frontal male nudity, provoked Culture and Sport Glasgow, which runs GoMA, to request that Marti’s work be removed in order ‘to reframe the debate’. ‘The sh[OUT] programme was a platform commissioned by GoMA to overcome the stigma about sexuality,’ says Marti. ‘[Pornography] is not the point of my work: I’m interested in intimacy, emotions, relationships. It happens that the men featured in my work are HIV positive.’
‘It was important that this work was shown at GoMA. It’s a great platform and we need to keep pushing dialogue. Now it’s going to be shown in a basement.’
Despite these recent experiences, Marti maintains that Glasgow is a great, active city in which to live and work, and that he is more determined that ever to get his message across.
‘I won’t compromise in my work at all . . . As an artist I have to take a stand against these attitudes.’
BEST OF THE REST Highlights from Scotland’s celebration of queer culture
Markus Makavellian’s International Order An hour in the company of glitter-painted New York performance poet Markus Makavellian, the alter ego of Glasgow- based writer and performer Drew Taylor. Arches, Wed 14 & Thu 15 Oct.
David Hoyle The performance artist formerly known as The Divine David returns with a free show to celebrate 25 years of the
Transmission Gallery, and will also be appearing at Death Disco. Transmission Gallery, Fri 16 Oct.
Death Disco The monthly electro disco night celebrates Glasgay! with a sparkling line-up of DJs, bands and performance artists
including Kissy Sell Out, Busy P, Crystal Fighters and James Yuill. Arches, Sat 17 Oct.
The Sunday Service Shimmering queen of the double entendre Jonathan Mayor hosts this special comedy night, which includes an appearance
from stunning comedian/magician Magic Mandy Muden. The Stand, Sun 18 Oct. Regina Award winning choreographer Tom Sapsford collaborates with computer artists KMA and designer Stevie Stewart to create an exciting new piece of dance theatre exploring the life of Elizabeth I. Tramway, Fri 23 & Sat 24 Oct.
Black Cab Glasgay’s first ever Black and Minority Ethnic cabaret presents the creative output of some of Scotland’s finest up and coming live entertainers. Arta, Thu 29 Oct.
Hair I Am Performer and writer Helen Cuinn presents the latest, ahem, strand of her project exploring the topic of ginger hair, The Hair on My Head is Dead, developed in conjunction with Dance House and the CCA. CCA, Wed 4 & Thu 5 Nov.
Terry Neason: Torch Songs of Pleasure’n’Passion A late night line-up of torch songs from huge- voiced Glasgow girl
Dani Marti: Insideout, sh[OUT] Space, 14 Parnie Street, until Sat 10 Oct. Neason, including numbers made famous by the likes of Piaf, Brel, Gershwin and Garland. Tron Theatre, Fri 6 Nov.