Art Reviews

Mann Up

Gallery in The Lanes

11/07/19

From July 18th to August 7th, Gallery in the Lanes will host an exhibition by multimedia artist, lecturer and designer Mark Mann. Titled Mann Up, the exhibition brings to light a less known aspect of LGBT history. Mann’s work playfully tells a story of the hardships of the gay community from a time in which homosexuality was a crime and interior design was the only means of self-expression.

 
Through ceramics, photography and textiles, Mann discusses the ongoing fight for equal rights and representation, while using lively imagery and colours that make the exhibition enjoyable and fun. The images use a secret language that needs to be spotted and decoded in every piece, from the details of the wallpaper in the background of the photos to the floral imagery of the ceramics. In England and Wales, homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1967. Scotland followed in 1980 and Northern Ireland in 1982. Before then, two men in a consensual relationship could have been arrested. Symbolism such as peacock feathers and references to ancient Greek mythology were often used by gay men, in their art and everyday life, to identify themselves and one another without the risk of being prosecuted.
 
The exhibition will take place towards the end of Norwich pride month, which launched on June 28th and will carry on until July 27th on the day of Norwich Pride.  

Mann Up will be on display from July 18th to August 7th at Gallery in the Lanes, 25 Bedford Street, Norwich.