Transitions Catalogue Digital Edition
Accompanying Catalogue to Transitions: Seen Unseen Exhibition
Accompanying Catalogue to Transitions: Seen Unseen Exhibition
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Jide/Sebastian<br />
Oil on canvas<br />
150cm x 100cm<br />
2019<br />
This painting features Revd Jide Macaulay. Jide is a gay British-Nigerian priest who<br />
started an inclusive church for LGBT+ in Nigeria and now works in London as the<br />
founding pastor of “House of Rainbow” – a charity that works with and supports<br />
gay BAME Christians and other faiths across the world.<br />
The painting echoes an image of St Sebastian in local Anglican church where Jide<br />
currently serves as the Assistant Curate: a beautiful Saint who was martyred by<br />
being pierced with arrows and who is often seen as an iconic gay figure. In the<br />
background, a street scene from Nigeria references Jide’s past life experience<br />
and historic roots. He is wrapped in a rainbow Union Jack – a symbol of LGBT+<br />
pride and British identity. Pierced by an arrow, wounded by pernicious and hateful<br />
homophobia he has encountered in Nigeria and in the British Church, he remains<br />
strong: standing beautiful and proud.<br />
As a person living with HIV, the flowing blood also has special significance. As well<br />
as a symbol of wounding, body fluids from HIV+ people are often seen as unclean<br />
and infectious, but this is unwarranted prejudice not least because modern drug<br />
regimes reduce the viral load in a person so that there is no risk of passing the<br />
virus on to others.<br />
Ric Stott comments, ”Jide is a true LGBT+ hero who has faced much opposition<br />
in his ministry, much of it from fellow Christians, this painting highlights the holy<br />
beauty of this remarkable Black gay man.”<br />
Ric Stott<br />
Ric Stott is an artist and Methodist Minister based in Sheffield. His practice is<br />
primarily oil painting and drawing. Finding inspiration from diverse experiences<br />
studying medical science, theology and art psychotherapy he explores ideas<br />
focussed on sexuality and spirituality and the impact of place on our sense of self.<br />
For Ric painting is an exercise in fully embodied spirituality.<br />
As his work progresses, he is seeking to further investigate this interplay of body,<br />
spirit and place as well as the relationship between painting and drawing with an<br />
emphasis on the boundary blurring aspects of queer experience.<br />
Ric completed his MFA in Fine Art at Sheffeild Hallam University in May 2018.<br />
www.ricstott.com
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