Tell us about your involvement in the creative process behind this years theme ‘Mardi Gras’ History of the World’.
When I became involved in the project the theme was already decided. My job was to come up with some concepts to visually represent it. Sometimes you have a clear vision of how your work will feel, but I was a little overwhelmed when I heard about the theme because it was so broad.
It definitely took some time to develop in my mind before I put pencil to paper. I devised a concept using 6 different characters from history, both real and fictional, each sitting within a consistent framework of elements, a set, that when viewed together say ‘History of the World’.
I thought it was great way to represent the various sections of the GLBT community, by having the characters played by people from within the community.
How were the characters selected?
My initial concepts for the theme did suggest characters and people I thought relevant, but I was open to and encouraged guidance from the team at Mardi Gras, who I know have a wealth of experience and knowledge about homosexual history, because in this country, they helped shape it.
We wanted to recognise a variety of characters from different time periods, people who have made significant historical contributions, those who may have played with gender identity, people in the arts or those instantly recognisable historical figures we thought we could have bit of fun with.
At the same time we thought about the ways we could put our own twist representing these characters to maybe play with gender identity ourselves or ways we could to localise it to our community here in Sydney.
How did you select the models to play these characters?
It was a collaborative effort finding the models.
From initial concepts we already had a few names bouncing around, like Alan Norman, Mr Sydney Leather 2008. He immediately came to mind to play the part of sexy older gentleman King Neptune.
Like Alan, representative of the leather community, we decided to find other prominent people within the GLBT community like community activist Siri May as Joan of Arc, Surf Life Saver Rob Magee as Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man, Fetish Fashion Futurist Cyber Queen as Queen Elizabeth I, Drag Queen Mini Cooper as Marlene Dietrich and Drag King Rocco D’Amore as the gay clone.
What was the process behind creating these images?
Once the concept was given the green light Damien Eames from Mardi Gras and myself set to work making it happen. We assembled a fantastic team including Helen White as photographer, Dean Pearce from Demon Leather as stylist to provide the predominately fetish costumes, David Jennings for hair and wigs, and Ross Fairhurst as make up artist.
We first photographed the models as the characters, I then made drawings of the photographs, and put them together in the computer to produce the final artwork as digital illustrations. A technique I saw as imperative for continuity across the six characters, to reinforce the historical element.
The characters were then placed in a totally hand drawn environment as I wanted the imagery to have a very hand drawn feel, with the stylistic elements reminiscent of an old map. My number set serving as a background for key dates in homosexual history.
What does it mean to you to have your work on show as part of this year’s Mardi Gras festival?
It means a lot to me. I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that does so much for the community.
At this point in my life it made sense to become involved with Mardi Gras to satisfy and explore my own interests. I was surprised but very grateful they trusted me to produce the artwork for their 2010 theme.
My work as an artist follows whatever interests I have at the time. From that view point it can be seen as selfish, but I need to create work that is personal to me, to work through some of my own issues, and in the process to offer something honest an audience can connect with.
I look forward to the release of each of the six characters in the lead up to the Mardi Gras festival. I’ve worked so hard and Danielle Harvey and everyone at Mardi Gras have worked hard to produce a great festival this year, and I was happy I could play a small part making it happen.
Does being involved with this year’s Mardi Gras allow you to reach a broader audience or a different kind of audience than you would otherwise?
Although my work is not always about homosexuality, being involved in this year’s Mardi Gras did allowed me to produce work of that nature, and to reach an audience I personally have a great fondness for.
It was a theme I was able to further explore in my series ‘BINGO v 2.0 The Seedy Underworld of Subculture and Sex by Numbers’. I just make the kind of work I want to make, and if someone has interest in it then great, but if not, that’s fine too. I know a naked man in a wrestlers mask, jerking off over an Eames chair won’t appeal to everyone.
Scott’s exhibition BINGOv2.0 runs 19th-28th February at URBAN UPRISING 314 Crown St, Darlinghurst 12.00pm-6.00pm daily.
For more information about Scott visit his website.