Chris Turrell created ‘A Conversation’, an installation consisting of five ‘portraits’ of queer visionaries who profoundly influenced him both as an individual and as an artist which were shown at Somerset House for the Craft Council’s Collect Open in April 2025.
These figures include filmmaker Derek Jarman, raconteur Quentin Crisp, poet Wilfred Owen, performer Leigh Bowery and ceramicist Angus Suttie.
Each of these individuals represents a different facet of queer culture over the past century, from the often suppressed and censored emotions captured in writing and poetry, to bold expressions of anger and defiance against societal norms.
For Bluecoat Display Centre’s In the Window Chris will be showing the water bottle titled ‘You Will Blaze’ (illustrated above) which is in homage to Wilfred Owen alongside 2 unseen works. The bottle features extracts from a letter from Wilfred Owen to Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon encouraged Owen to develop his poetry when they were at Craiglockheart War Hospital. They had a short but intense relationship which obviously had a huge impact on Owen judging by the letter. Many of Owen’s letters were destroyed by Sassoon and Owen’s brother after he died so this only gives us a glimpse of his feelings towards Sassoon.
Traditional and unconventional materials are used with the clay such as watercolour and gold leaf, creating multiple layers of slips, underglazes and paint that are sanded back, repainted and waxed creating richly decorated surfaces.
In-conversation Event – 18th July, 11am.
Chris will be here to chat about his work on Friday 18th July, at 11am. with Nicola Scott, Decorative Arts Curator at the Walker Art Gallery and our Assistant Director, Kate Moult.
This is a free event but tickets are limited so please book via Eventbrite