Is Oscar Wilde the New Prophet? - October 2018

Prophet : a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God, such as Moses, Muhammad, Jesus. And Oscar Wilde ?

One could be confused by the comparison, wondering how and why the Irish playwright has suddenly turned into a religious figure, but walking through the heavy curtains masking the doors of the Studio Voltaire in Clapham answers for itself. Incense floats in the sunflower patterned room. It seems we’re in a church, and our impression proves true. Laura Harford, our host, introduces the Studio as a former Victorian Methodist chapel.

The narrow corridor becomes a large nave, with rows of wooden chairs from 1910, paintings on the walls, chandeliers and, luring the eye straight away towards the altar, a radiant wooden statue of Oscar Wilde himself. The whole place is dedicated to him, being David McDermott and Peter McGough’s Oscar Wilde Temple exhibition. The American-Irish duo’s goal wasn't turning Oscar Wilde into a Christlike figure, as they believe his life already bore similarities with Jesus’ and his suffering. In 1895, Wilde was imprisoned for his homosexuality, faced jail and public humiliation while transiting to prison at Clapham Junction, which affected his mental health deeply. Over a century after his death, Oscar Wilde has become a leading figure of the LGBT community.

Other martyrs’ portraits create a frieze reminding us of the Apostles behind his statue. Marsha P. Johnson, a black transgender woman and pioneer of the gay rights movement, Harvey Milk, first openly gay official in California ; Jody Dobrowski, a bar manager from the local area…

‘’It’s not just gay white men because that’s not what the community looks like’’, clarifies Virgil, Laura’s aide from New York, where the exhibition is originally from. ‘’It’s diverse, and beautiful’’.

Wilde is depicted as an angel, a halo above his head, a sunflower in his hand. The sunflowers, symbol of his work, are joined by the green carnation, a flower once worn by gay men to recognise themselves among an oblivious crowd. Beside him are the Virgin Speranza, his mother and source of inspiration, and the Devil Bosie, his lover who turned him to the police. Stained-glass, once again flower themed, has been put over the usually blank windows.

The Temple can be used for LGBT ceremonies, but also as a living space for homeless young LGBT people, with four bedrooms at the back. Laura adds ‘’It’s a sanctuary, a living space, the artists have been very clear about that. Anyone is free to come in and sit for as long as they want. It belongs to the community.’’