Delphinium Days

Artist and activist Derek Jarman (1942–94) is one of the most important and influential figures in twentieth-century British culture. An early campaigner for LGBTQIA+ rights and people living with HIV and AIDS, Jarman created art that challenged normative culture and neoliberal politics. His prolific practice spanned painting, film, installation, writing, set design, and performance. His garden and former home Prospect Cottage in Dungeness became a pilgrimage site worldwide. Jarman is best known as a pioneer of experimental film, and his fusion of art and activism profoundly influenced queer artistic practices. This exhibition brings together rarely seen paintings and films alongside photography and archival materials by Howard Sooley, Gordon Rainsford, and Denis Doran. It marks thirty years since the artist's death from an AIDS-related illness at age 52, and is the first exhibition of his work in Australia. Co-developed by Gus Fisher Gallery | The University of Auckland and City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi.