The Schwules Museum was happy to receive the artist Jez Dolan in 2017 for a two-week residency in its library and archive. Following up on the research Jez done here the SMU will host an artist talk in which we will engage with Jez’ practice, the 2018 exhibition Anders als die Andern shown at HOME in Manchester which resulted from his stay with SMU, as well as the subcultural queer language known as Polari.

Jez Dolan’s practice explores queerness and identity through the codification of language with a specific focus on: the things we don’t say / things that remain unsaid / secrecy and hiddenness, whilst utilising text and language as both form and content, visual presence and mode of communication.

Jez Dolan’s practice is interdisciplinary, project-based and research-driven. He employs a range of media according to the specific needs, demands and context of each project. Working with printmaking, drawing, performance, installation and curating, often creating new works from an exploration of archival materials and sources, through which we recall and revisit individual and shared memories and histories.

Jez Dolan is an interdisciplinary artist from the UK who is interested in researching queer identity; histories, heritage and personal archives, and how we place these, and ourselves in the wider world. Events and experiences always leave behind them a trace, or residual mark of their occurrence, and it is these traces, marks and events which Jez is interested in exploring, expressing these ideas through a process which is performative, collaborative, and celebrates the physical act of ‘making’.

Jez’s practice has emerged from his previous twenty – year history as a practitioner in socially engaged arts practice and education, and continues to evolve with each new body of work which is created. He has recently completed an MA in Queer Studies in Visual Art & Culture (with distinction) at Birmingham School of Art / Birmingham Institute of Art & Design.

Jez has recently shown work at: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, HOME, Manchester, The Leslie-Lohman Museum, New York City, The Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, Bury Art Museum, The People’s History Museum, Manchester, The UK Paliament Art Collection & Archives and The Britten-Pears Foundation. Recent live work has included The Britten-Pears Foundation, HOME Manchester and The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.