Identity, Gender, and Queerness Through Art: An Interview with Luca Bosani

Can you tell us about your project and what inspired the idea? 

My project explores identity, gender, and queerness through the creation of Unidentified Performing Objects (shoe-sculptures). These artworks are inspired by three LGBTQI+ Wandsworth real-life stories: stained glass artists Caroline Townshend (1878–1944) and Joan Howson (1885–1964); painter William Hallé (1912–1998); and the Alternative Miss World Fireball hosted by sculptor Andrew Logan at the Clapham Grand in 1995. The work is created by studying the techniques used by the artists during their lives and introducing elements of those practices into my sculpture and shoemaking methodology. The three pieces function as imaginary and fantastical shoes that Caroline, Joan, William, and Andrew could have worn. They were made with consideration for the shoe sizes and styles that would have been available in the different eras in which they lived. Each piece is directly inspired by a Wandsworth queer story, and its shape, design, and colouration highlight aspects of each narrative. 

How does your project connect with the London Borough of Culture’s theme of health and happiness? 

Queer lives have been isolated, criminalised, and discriminated against for centuries, and still are in various contexts today. My project aims to raise awareness of this history while also celebrating diversity and inclusivity. My Unidentified Performing Objects act as portals, allowing us to look into the past to build a better future, one that is happier, healthier, and more respectful, where diversity and queerness are welcomed and supported rather than judged and excluded. 

What has surprised you most about the project? 

I have been particularly intrigued by the opportunity to collaborate with researchers Nick Collinson, Kathryn Selwyn, and Antia Dona, Heritage and LBOC Digital Preservation Lead. Thanks to their support, I was able to access the Wandsworth Queer Archive, a unique resource where I found stories, documents, artworks, and personal items belonging to local queer artists. William Hallé’s diary was a particularly memorable discovery, especially the pages written between 1966 and 1967, when the Sexual Offences Act that partially decriminalised homosexuality was finally introduced in the UK. Official Much of your work explores fluidity, queerness, and transformation. 

How do these themes show up in this piece? 

Fluidity, queerness, and transformation are central to my artistic practice. In this commission, they are present in various ways. For example, in how the shoes mutate into sculptures, extending and morphing from familiar forms into unexpected configurations. Their queerness and fluidity exist not only in the diverse stories they tell, but also in their shape-shifting, elusive nature: part shoe-sculpture, part fashion piece, part contemporary artwork. Existing in the in-between, my practice reflects my non-binary approach to life, proposing alternative ways to exist and to engage with reality. Wearable art is a major part of your practice—objects that can include or empower the wearer. 

Will wearable elements feature in this commission, and if so, how? 

All the pieces created for this commission are wearable (in special events and circumstances, such as performances and photoshoots). Their size reflects the shoe sizes of the individuals who inspired the works, and I also utilised AI, feeding it historical photographs for analysis, to achieve greater accuracy. 

How are you approaching a hyper-local community project for Wandsworth?

I lived and worked in Wandsworth for ten years, so I feel deeply connected to the area and its local history. Having the opportunity to work with Nick, Kathryn, and Antia, and to delve into the hyper-local Wandsworth archive, brought me closer to the borough and provided valuable depth and insight. In addition, queer stories are a vital part of our culture, regardless of nation, location, race, or background. This universal theme, paired with hyper-local narratives, created the ideal conditions for developing meaningful work. 

What impact do you hope your commissioned work will have on communities in Wandsworth? 

I hope it will inspire, unite, and uplift LGBTQI+ communities, while also creating Official closeness, connection, and bridges with the wider cultural and artistic community, fostering inclusion and shared values. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about the project? 

I would like to thank Antia, Nick, and Kathryn for their creative and cultural support. I would like to thank Caroline, Joan, William, and Andrew for being themselves, for making art, and for leaving traces and archives that document their lives and work. I consider these artworks to be co-created, reflecting the plurality of voices and stories they aim to tell.