56 GSCENE
GRACE JONES & KYLIE
Hi Postman, tell us about your new project... “This project involves a number of murals of iconic queer or LGBTQ+ individuals, displayed at agreed public spaces. Our works aim to cheer up the public during these strange times. We aim to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture in an impactful, yet respectful, culturally aware manner. Our works are durable, but non-permanently pasted up on the streets.”
THE POSTMAN AND BROKEN HARTIST
Why now? “Since Covid-19, we are aware of the loss of key LGBTQ+ community events and the visibility they provide for LGBTQ+ communities across the UK. The importance of ‘seeing yourself’ on the street and being in the presence of peers is not happening. This is a huge loss to many people and impacts on mental health. Pride and being visible in a safe way is a huge part of the empowerment of Pride events.”
The Postman’s LGBTQ+ visibility project, by Eric Page ) You may have noticed the huge LGBTQ+
icons appearing on public walls around the city over the past few weeks. Gscene spotted Hunter Florist on St James’s Street has an enormous image of trans DJ Honey Dijon with an accompanying explanatory text by Broken Hartist. The Sussex Beacon at the bottom of the street has a massive Freddie Mercury mural, sporting a red ribbon and welcoming all to Brighton’s ‘gay village’. Halfway up the hill, the Prowler shop has a duelling set of pop icons with Grace Jones and Kylie, who you may remember from last year’s Pride festival. There are a few other images scattered around to be discovered. The Postman’s street art has been popping up around the city and particularly in the St James’s Street area. We’ve also clocked a Blondie, Bowie and Martin Luther King. Another large trans mural can be found at the Brighton Dome hoardings on Church Street. It complements the recent Black Lives Matter mural on New Road. Both are supported by the Brighton Dome. Hove seafront’s orange barbecue bins portray a large selection of icons, including Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston and Madonna.
The viaduct on Preston Road is next on the list to have an updated mural on one of its large columns. This will repair the Freddie Mercury piece which was pasted up for last year’s Pride festival. Altogether, The Postman’s icons remind us that we, and our diverse LGBTQ+ community, are everywhere. The artist has an international reputation but is based in our city. Their work is instantly recognisable with its colourful punk style. Their idea is to place art in our daily lives and celebrate pop culture. The artworks educate, challenge and always entertain. In a year without Pride, Trans Pride or any of the other highly visible public community events which are usually held across Brighton & Hove, it’s important to have some strong sense of visibility on the streets that LGBTQ+ people live on, use and visit. We need to see ourselves represented in a range of ways, and on our own terms. Gscene managed to track down the modest and anonymous group of international artists who make up The Postman Collective and their friends Broken Hartist and asked them a few questions about this current project.
Who do you feature? “We generally feature pop icons past and present and iconic movie characters. But we have recently diversified our work by featuring key feminist icons, NHS workers and Black Lives Matter-related individuals. Our artwork is positive, carefully positioned, and has an essence of fun at its heart. We believe that public art can be both beautiful and empowering. Last year we joined forces with Brighton & Hove Pride. We hope there is much more to come.” Who are the trans icons that you’ve used for this project? “We’ve chosen two trans and non-binary activists and performers. Our friends Broken Hartist have added explanatory words to our murals, describing Amanda Lepore as per her own quote: ‘I really associate glamour with being happy. If you put on high heels and lipstick or get a new outfit, you feel great. It's a celebration of loving yourself, and the whole ritual of it is so great.’ For this design we’ve collaborated with UK photographer Marco Cerrone. “The Honey Dijon artwork is based on a photograph by US photographer Ricardo Gomes. Honey is a NY-born, Berlin-based DJ. She once
