On a dark and stormy afternoon, you stood defiant, gazing at the sky. Roots searching for soil between the cold stone. You are destined for more, not just a pretty face. Chosen. Your small stature will not speak softly. Violet replacing violence. Reclaiming the earth, restoring the peace. An act of hate has placed you here but the hands that guide you act with love and respect.
MShed - Bristol Harbourside.
Outside the M Shed on Bristol harbourside we wait in what can only be described as a torrent of rain. Not an ideal day for an art tour of the city but we’ve never been fair weather people and as our paper coffee cups and our fruit Danish slowly starts to turn to papier-mâché we are suddenly greeted with big beaming smiles by the curator of the Vanguard exhibition and the artist Paul Harfleet. The Pansy Project was started by Paul as a way for him to reclaim the space where he experienced homophobic abuse and today, we are heading out around the city to plant pansies where others have faced similar experiences. A small act, a positive action with a little unassuming plant, who’s species is vitally important to this project. As Paul explains not only does the word ‘Pansy’ refer to an effeminate or gay man but it originates from the French word ‘to think’ and that’s exactly what the project is inviting you the viewer to do.
We head out into the rain firstly to Wine Street in the city centre, where this summer a Pride Flag was installed by the council on a prominent pedestrian crossing. It was to show the inclusivity of Bristol, however within a week it was defaced with the words “Jesus Loves Sinners”. Paul moves meticulously and silently to find the perfect spot for his plant. He never just plonks the plant at the scene, out of context and out of the soil. He tells me it’s extremely important that the plant could take root here, or appear to have seeded itself. He looks for the nearest source of earth closest to the attack, not curating the scene and never moving anything to change the narrative.
Wine Street - Bristol.
We spend the afternoon together and travel on foot across the city to two other sites to install pansies. One at the bottom of Park St on College Green next to Bristol Cathedral and the other outside a nightclub where a famous England cricketer was involved in a homophobic altercation. At each location Paul explains what had happened here, respectfully and never revealing the identities of individuals involved. Between each planting on our walks, it is lovely to get to know the artist. He has a big beaming smile, an infectious laugh and a great sense of humour. But when we reach each location Paul is quiet, everything he does is with the upmost care and respect for what has happened here - from finding the right spot, planting the pansy to obtaining his photograph. As we watch him, I feel we are witnessing something very special. In 2021 there shouldn’t be a need for Paul’s work. We hear all the time about more visibility, equal opportunity and acceptance of others but aside from the buzz words and promises of the people in power we still have a lot of work to do as individuals. Kindness is what I took away from my afternoon with Paul Harfleet. In the form of a small humble flower, Pauls pansies radiate light and hope in the ugliness of human behaviour. They are a powerful statement against homophobia and an act of resistance against abuse.
Clifton Triangle - Bristol.
For more information thepansyproject.com