Artangel Interaction in association with SW5 (Terrence Higgins Trust) present
To the Man in My Dreams
a collaborative letter-writing project by artist George Chakravarthi with members of SW5
SW5 clients are invited to two free events:
- Monday 30th October, Madame Jojo’s: artist in conversation with Neil Bartlett
- Wednesday 1 November, Comptons of Soho: artist’s performance
To the Man in My Dreams is a collection of letters between someone who calls himself ‘father’ and his offspring ‘George’. But each time they write, their identities change, their stories seem stranger and more unfinished. Is George more than one person? Is he a man? Is ‘daddy’ his real father? Is he alive now, or did he write long ago? Were these letters ever sent?
The project is part of Artangel Interaction’s Nights of London series of artist-led projects exploring the city with the people who wake, work or watch over it. To the Man in My Dreams is the result of a letter-writing game developed during workshops led by artist George Chakravarthi with members of SW5. He also invited contributions from punters in Soho bars and readers of QX and Boyz magazines. The letter-writing process emerged as a form of imaginative role-play where identities can be swapped and recreated. The only rule was that each letter should be between ‘Father’ and ‘George’.
What is it about fathers?
Artist George Chakravarthi in conversation with author-director Neil Bartlett
Monday 30 October 2006
6:45-8pm (after-bar to 10pm) Madame Jojo’s, 8-10 Brewer St, Soho, London W1 (www.madamejojos.com)Award-winning artist George Chakravarthi talks informally with celebrated author-director Neil Bartlett. They will introduce the project and its process, and discuss the questions it provokes around male sex work, father figures and the gay male psyche. Feel free to bring your father. (Arrive early to ensure a place or reserve places by emailing sarah@artangel.org.uk)
Dear Father/To the Man in My Dreams Performance by George Chakravarthi
Wednesday 1 November 2006
6-11pm Comptons of Soho, 51-53 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1 (www.comptons-of-soho.co.uk)Over the course of an ordinary pub evening, Chakravarthi will write the last letter from ‘George’ to ‘Father’. A live video transmission of the letter-in-progress will be projected nearby. Members of the public are invited to watch as he writes, read the collection of letters, chat to the artist and add your own letter to his archive.
Please be aware that some of the written material in this project contains violent and sexual material. Publicity photographs will be taken at both events. Both venues are only accessible by stairs.