- Description
Description
Join us for a special screening of Ian Giles’ film Edward / Maurice followed by a conversation with author Diarmuid Hester about E.M. Forster and queering history.
Edward / Maurice draws upon works by two of Cambridge’s most acclaimed alumni: Christopher Marlowe’s play Edward II and E.M Forster’s novel Maurice. Both texts feature fully realised complex gay protagonists within historic settings. A 13th century king is murdered with a red-hot poker and a 1900s love triangle between Cambridge students and a gamekeeper flourishes in light of the green wood.
Giles’ 30 min film is set on the final day of a summer drama camp; we join a young LGBTQI+ group as they embody these texts to explore how history, power and class have shaped same sex relationships across the centuries.
During his time as artist in residence at Cambridge School of Art, Ian Giles has engaged with staff and students at Anglia Ruskin University and Downing College Cambridge as he has developed and produced his new film.
This event is part of Art History Festival 2023 organised by the Association for Art History.
Edward / Maurice, an installation based on the film, is on show at The Heong Gallery at Downing College from 8 to 24 September 2023. Wednesday to Sunday 12-5PM. Free Admission.
Doors open at 6:15pm for a drinks reception in the Kettle’s Yard foyer, with the film screening starting at 7pm.
Due to conservation and security reasons, no bags or large coats are allowed in the House.
Please note that the House is not fully wheelchair accessible. If you would like to reserve an accessible seat, please email events@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk
Speaker Biographies
Ian Giles is an artist based in London. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and his work has been exhibited at the Whitechapel Gallery, Kettle’s Yard, Outpost and the Stedelijk Museum. Edward / Maurice will be exhibited as an installation at the Heong Gallery during September 2023.
Dr Diarmuid Hester is a radical cultural historian, activist, and author of Nothing Ever Just Disappears, a new history of queer culture through its spaces published by Penguin in August 2023. He is co-founder and co-host of Club Urania, Cambridge’s premier LGBTQ+ performance and music night, and regularly contributes to BBC Radio 3 as a BBC New Generation Thinker. Diarmuid teaches at the Faculty of English, University of Cambridge, and is a research associate of Emmanuel College.
Image: Ian Giles by Rob Harriss / Diamuid Hester by Steve Heywood
