Queer Cult Camp

Queer film icons exhibition opens at Hackney Picturehouse –  By Kev Clarke and Sina Sparrow

A month long exhibition by two leading artists in the “queer” London underground art scene has recently been launched. The exhibition features 12 posters (6 by each artist) exploring queer icons from pop culture in a comic book style.

Kev Clarke’s work is focused on cult pop culture past and present, Kev Clarke is an artist and designer and sells his work through his company “The Face of Pop” which sells Tshirts, zines, prints and original art work. Kev Clarke is also working on “The pop therapee project” which harnesses pop culture as a tool for therapy. Kev Clarkes work blends iconic images and pop culture together in an often witty way. Using image and icons as a language to connect.  His works in the show include, Bill and Ted’s Homosexual adventure, Querelle (featuring the Thunder Cats) Cyn versus Lyn (this poster is based on Cyn from Working Girl and Lynne from Girls Just Want To Have Fun) and the Desperately Seeking Susan comic strip.

Sina Sparrow’s self-published comics – such as ART FAG, DIRTY MIND and PRETTY BOYS IGNORE YOU – explore autobiography, sex, emotions, relationships and queer life in the city. His pop culture icons adorn the flyers and posters for his clubnight DEBBIE, a dance party dedicated to female-fronted rock and pop. Sina’s work features comic strips including Suspiria, Weekend, Stranger by the Lake, Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, and Clueless.

Kev said: “All my work is based on personal experience and I use reference films and characters from my youth that have made an impression on me, like in the ‘Querelle Thunder Cats’ picture (based on the Andy Warhol film image) depicting Lion-O and Panthro in a hot embrace. This is based on my childhood fantasies, who occupied a homerotic queer space long before I showed up, I play with the imagery and have fun with it. I want my work to lift the viewer up.  I want my work to connect with people and mean something. Mainly its based on my childhood perversions that I’m still living out through my artwork.”

Sina says: “Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion” is about two outcasts who are trying to impress the people that bullied them, but they ultimately realize that that’s worthless and it’s more important to be authentic to themselves – so even though there’s no overt gay content it’s a movie that’s always resonated with me. I see a film like “Weekend” as a movie version of the kind of personal things I share in my own work, which is personal, and about sex, love and relationships.”

Together Kev and Sina present this joint exhibition – Queer Camp Cult – spotlighting works based on their favourite cult, kitsch and queer movies.

 The Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare St, London E8 1HE until Saturday 5th July.