Naked on the Jubilee

“Naked on the Jubilee” is an experimental response to the theme ‘object activation’ focussing on the London Underground Roundel as its subject. The piece is a large-scale tapestry using blue denim for its main body being stitched together with red thread (reflecting the colours of the underground roundel) and includes printed imagery, using natural printing methods such as cyanotype. It also has embroidered elements exploring the use of text and textural patternmaking. The tapestry explores concepts of identity and changes from a queer perspective, investigating themes of sex, performance, gender, alcohol, sexuality, friendships and insecurity all as one vulnerable body. This comes together as an explosive hybrid of experiences and feeling. Alfie is inspired by the transition from town life to urban life which in itself is a difficult change (especially as a young person in a contemporary and uncertain space), where insecurities have had to be faced head on. Beginning to navigate the world as young gay man. The title “naked on the jubilee” plays with the contradictions of formality and informality of the London Underground. It takes the formal elements of British iconography and deconstructs these into informal satires using slurs such as “fag” to comment on normalised homophobia in British culture. Alfie describes the vulnerability of the piece being comparable to that of being “naked” on a tube line which feels raw and honest.