Birmingham
SHOUT FESTIVAL > 2026
The two images above are of the same planting, I’ve created two versions so that in one image the Birmingham AIDS & HIV Memorial can be seen in the background. Unfortunately this was as close as I could plant due to the lack of soil near to the memorial, a common occurrence in modern cities.
Despite the themes of The Pansy Project my work is not always gloom-filled. The joy of bringing people together to resist the crimes against us can be healing and joy-filled. For Shout Festival on Saturday the 26th of September I had a lovely day of sharing the story of The Pansy Project and as usual I was on the ground covered in dirt for most of it. I’m hugely grateful to everyone that attended the events. Photo courtesy of Nicky, who was present for the planting tour.
I am currently working on bringing these and other plantings together to make a short film. These films have become a way for me to share more context surrounding each planting, you can see films made in other locations here.
For Ben Whitehouse
During my visit to Birmingham, as part of Shout Festival in 2026, this image of a pansy I planted for Ben Whitehouse in 2009 was used to promote my return to the city. I was moved to discover that Ben Whitehouse had recently passed away. This sad news was revealed to me on social media from a friend of Ben, they shared this image with their own network, to highlight Ben’s contribution to The Pansy Project. Another friend of Ben attended the Pansy Project panel discussion at the Birmingham LGBT Centre on Saturday 26th September. It was clear that Ben was loved and appreciated by his friends and the community and is sadly missed.
In light of this sad news it feels appropriate to share some context on this planting. In 2009 I asked Shout Festival to ask the local LGBTQ+ community for locations of abuse they’d like me to mark with pansy. I’m aware that this request is a strange one and usually only garners locations from members of the community who may be art lovers and especially engaged and political. Ben offered his location and story, which I marked. I didn’t have the chance to meet Ben directly, though I was and am very grateful for their contribution.
The Pansy Project is my work and I’m always keen to learn and develop how I record the locations I’m supplied with. This particular story and my experience in Birmingham in 2026 has given me lots to think about especially when it come to remembering our community.
My hope is that this image that marks Ben’s contribution to The Pansy Project reveals how much he valued art, resistance and activism, something reflected in the responses I received from his friends, who remember him so fondly.
SHOUT FESTIVAL > 2009
In 2009 The Pansy Project first featured at the Shout Festival in Birmingham, the pansies below were gathered via social media and with the support of West Midlands Police. The pansies were supplied by Singletons Nurseries.
