To mark the 30th anniversary of his death, Polari Press are publishing a special limited edition of a finger in derek jarman’s mouth by Simon Maddrell – a queer Manx poet thriving with HIV in Brighton & Hove.
Accompanied by cyanotype impressions, a finger in derek jarman’s mouth is a poetic tribute to Jarman’s inspiring legacy spun from the multi-coloured threads of his extraordinary life – writer, artist, queer and AIDS activist, designer, filmmaker, and gardener.
After his diagnosis Jarman bought Prospect Cottage, facing Dungeness nuclear power station, where he created a beautiful garden in the harshest of environments. Unashamed of his HIV status, Jarman died of an AIDS-related illness on the 19 February 1994, aged 52.
“Simon Maddrell is a poet who knows Derek Jarman’s work both intimately and deeply, and in this new collection he has taken words from Derek’s diaries, images from the films and colours from that famously wild and stony Dungeness garden — and re-edited them into a loving, furious and gorgeously queer act of homage.” Neil Bartlett, author of Address Book and The Disappearance Boy
a finger in derek jarman’s mouth will be published as a special limited edition duplexed board cover book, printed on high quality smooth white paper and featuring a central poem printed on Colorplan Sapphire Blue paper. Pre-Order HERE
