This portrait was commissioned by the University of Salford at the installation of Jackie Kay as the new Chancellor. Alonso, then a first year BA Visual Arts student, was selected by a panel for the commission, alongside Rory Mullen (MA Visual Arts). Alonso chose to undertake the photoshoot at the John Rylands Library in Manchester, reflecting on Kay’s background in poetry and literature.
Alonso was born in Spain and studied Graphic Design and Advertising before undertaking Visual Arts at the University of Salford. Photography is at the core of her creative practice, with recent projects also branching out into textiles and printmaking.
Medium: Series, Film Photographs accompanied by letters from the subjects.
Dimensions:
Photographs: W: 59.4 cm, H:8 4.1 cm, each accompanied by an A4 letter.
Accession Number:
Acquisition info:
Jesse’s own coming-out at secondary school was fraught with the fear, and harsh reality, of violent backlash. But it was also hampered by what Glazzard saw as a complete lack of queer visibility. He had simply no experience of how tobecomequeer. Glazzard’s first cultural experience of queer romance was of a single ‘chaste, lesbian kiss’ on the popular soap operaEastEnders at the age of 9.
While LGBTQI representation in popular culture has improved, Glazzard describes still seeing many stale stereotypes, which this photographic work seeks to rectify. LGBT+ Lettersis an attempt at providing, through portraits and texts, queer aesthetics for people who find themselves without meaningful representation in the world. In the photography series, Glazzard demonstrates a lack of self-indulgence rather a strong belief in accommodating to his subjects’ individualities, and ultimately to build trust, capture intimacy, educate and inform.
The LGBT+ Letters series was gifted to the Collection at the culmination of the artists time on the Art Collection’s Graduate Scholarship Programme, run in partnership with Castlefield Gallery.
Portraits:
Jesse Glazzard, Ella (from LGBT+ Letters), 2018-2019. Courtesy the artist.
Jesse Glazzard, Blake (from LGBT+ Letters), 2018-2019. Courtesy the artist.
Jesse Glazzard, Jay (From LGBT+ Letters), 2018-19. Courtesy the artist.
Jesse Glazzard, Lua (From LGBT+ Letters), 2018-19. Courtesy the artist.
Jesse Glazzard, Meggie (From LGBT+ Letters), 2018-19. Courtesy the artist.
Jesse Glazzard, Laurie (From LGBT+ Letters), 2018-19. Courtesy the artist.
Jesse Glazzard, Weimen (From LGBT+ Letters), 2018-19. Courtesy the artist.
