Tim Walker is gay, and it’s a big part of his life. And he is a photographer. Or he is a photographer and he is gay. Either way, he has been photographing the gay people he knows. And his photos are on show at the exhibition Fairyland at the National Portrait Gallery.
Some of the photos are of people you would probably know of if you live in Britain – actors and comedians for the most part.
This photo, the first as you enter the exhibition, is entitled Liz Carr as Elizabeth I (2024). It shows gay activist Liz Carr in a costume designed by Sophie Lincoln that is entirely made of paper. In fact, the whole room in which she appears to sit, is a construct in paper.
And here is Tim Walker’s manifesto, or dream, or hope:
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN
When I think about Fairyland, I imagine myself attending a formal gathering in a big house. Everyone is polite. I go through the motions, feeling othered and stifled by awkward conversations. As I step out into the back garden to get some air, my ears catch the sound of another party… laughter and music coming from beyond the lights strung on the trees at the bottom of the garden.
Some of the guests from the house seem to be heading there, so I follow. Upon arrival, I see Pan, Bacchus, Priapus, the fauns, the fairies, the ancient, the mystical. I join in with their dancing, feeling closer to my nature, and realise that I want others to experience this too. I want to invite you to the party at the bottom of the garden…
Tim Walker
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