Ian Giles: Edward / Maurice

8 Sep-24 Sep 2023

Overview

The Heong Gallery presents a multimedia installation by Ian Giles featuring the premiere of his film Edward / Maurice, created during his artist residency at Cambridge School of Art.

Edward / Maurice draws upon works by two of Cambridge's most acclaimed alumni: Christopher Marlowe's play Edward II and E.M Forster’s novel Maurice. Both texts feature fully realised complex gay protagonists within historic settings. A 13th century king is murdered with a red-hot poker and a 1900s love triangle between Cambridge students and a gamekeeper flourishes in the light of the green wood.

This new work is conceived as an act of collective storytelling. The words spoken in the film have been collaged together by Giles from a wide range of sources including snippets borrowed from radio documentaries, academic research, the original texts, and transcribed conversations with friends and experts. 

The 30-minute film is set on the final day of a summer drama camp; we join a young LGBTQI+ group as they embody and share these texts to explore how history, power and class have shaped same sex relationships across the centuries.

During his time as artisit in residence at Cambridge School of Art, Ian engaged with staff and students at Anglia Ruskin University and Downing Dramatic Society as he developed and produced his new film.

The film is played on a loop throughout the day and begins on the hour and half past the hour.

The Artist

Ian Giles is a multidisciplinary artist, his work fosters new networks to record and celebrate LGBTQ+ histories and experiences. Upon graduating from the Slade MFA, 2012 he was a LUX Associate Artist. Recent exhibitions, performances and screenings include: A Clear Comfort at Van Gogh House, London (2023); The London Open at the Whitechapel Gallery, London (2022); On Railton Road, Jerwood New Work Fund (2021); After BUTT at Kunstnerforbundet, Oslo (2020); Outhouse at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge & Firstsite, Colchester produced by Orginalprojects (2019); Studio Four at OUTPOST, Norwich (2019); After BUTT, NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1, New York (2018); Video Club: Sex Talks at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2018) and After BUTT at Chelsea Space, London (2018). Other notable exhibitions and screenings include: Chisenhale, Whitstable Biennale, Cell Project Space, Harvard University and the Scottish Queer International Film Festival. Residencies include Hospitalfield, Scotland in 2017. He was a New Geographies commissioned artist 2018-20, his resulting performance and installation was acquired with the support from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund for Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery.