← Earlier work / John Wayne is Gay
Exhibition concept and related works, documented 2012
John Wayne is Gay
John Wayne is Gay is an unfinished exhibition concept investigating the cultural construction of American identity and masculinity through John Wayne as a cinematic icon. Its original working title proposed a 'one-man group show', with paintings, drawings, installations, prints, video and other works.
The project challenges the ideal of the heterosexual, heroic cowboy by changing the familiar image of John Wayne, using deliberate reversals and stereotypes. The title and method belong to the historical project; they are not claims about John Wayne's personal sexual orientation. The archive below separates works and proposals documented at the time from the later, realised JAY GUN exhibition.
Works and proposals
Memories of an American Hero
Images, inkjet and pencil. Described as a series of 100; 15 images documented on the surviving page.
The Duke Show
Proposal for a shooting-gallery installation, using familiar Western stereotypes and a deliberately disturbing choice of targets.
Good Morning America
Poster, 150 × 120 cm. Listed as in progress in the 2012 archive.
The Beach Rider
Mixed-media painting and print on canvas, 160 × 100 cm. Listed as in progress in the original archive.
ArseAnal
Fictional gun collection with objects and a promotional video, developed in connection with JAY GUN.
John Wayne is Gay (cardboard cut-out)
Life-size cardboard cut-out with make-up, documented on a separate archive page.
Mural proposal
Coloured-pencil mural proposal, dimensions determined by exhibition space.
Further ideas in the original proposal
The 2012 working document also listed the following, without surviving project pages or evidence here of their completion:
- The Childred of John Wayne (spelling as in original)
- Public Spanking (painting)
- Adios, Vaquero (Goodbye, Cowboy) (shrine / installation)
- Memories of World War I & II - back in the days (video)
- The John Wayne Bible (book)
JAY GUN
JAY GUN - The Most Dangerous Man on the Planet developed from this broader line of enquiry, but unlike the proposed group show, it was exhibited at WW Gallery in London, 6 February to 2 March 2013. The exhibition included paintings, drawings, constructed gun sculptures, video and a shooting-range element.
