Daniel Wilkinson AKA Strange Perfume is a publication research artist and project curator. Daniel sees his process as a living classroom and a collaborative platform for curating, writing, publishing and where curiosity is allowed to build relationships that serve as an inspiration and social experiences.
I’m a writer, printer, self-publisher, research artist and project curator. Since 2015 I‘ve been curating projects and spaces working mainly in the field of independent writing and self-publishing. Projects include Strange Perfume ‘A Queer Publishing Fair’ at the South London Gallery in 2018 and 2019 and at Chetham's Library, Manchester in partnership with Book Works ‘You Must Locate A Fantasy’ Library Residency Scheme (2018). Assembly on book fairs London Art Book Fair, Whitechapel Gallery (2018).
My writing has evolved into a style that is attentively inspired in part by Derek Jarman’s diaristic script writing combined with my own ‘queering the reality’ a technique that incorporates historical LGBTQ+ liminal events set within kaleidoscopic narratives. My latest writing project ‘PEONIES ARE IMPOSSIBLE' and its narrative is played out against the backdrop of a metaphoric domain of the Blue Mountains a hypnotic landscape from Jarman’s film, Blue (1993). Through fairy-tale characters and mischievous narratives, ‘PEONIES ARE IMPOSSIBLE’ addresses the bias heteronormative obstacles and confronts what is the ideal-real for the queer identity through a series of topsy-turvy scenarios.
My past writing projects include my pseudonym ‘Sally Fairbrass’; Sally’s writing focuses on the zeitgeist and social ideologies of the 90’s drug-induced cultures in a period of biased media coverage of the queer identity.
I've shown, talked, and curated at; Publishers Assembly on book fairs London Art Book Fair (Talk) Whitechapel Gallery (2018). Strange Perfume, South London Gallery (2018, 2019) Filet, London (2017), White Cubicle (2017). Collaboration with Lucy Woodhouse 'Maximum Overdrive' Focal Point Gallery, Southend (2017). Medellin projects Mexico City, Mexico (2017). Beyond Words Book Fair with Book Works (2016), Future Library Publishing Fair, Open School East (2016). Artists Behind Bars, Matt's Gallery (2015). Space-Time: the Multiverse, Wysing Arts Centre, (2015). Tenderbooks (2015). Space-Time: The Future, Wysing Arts Centre (2014). Publication Launch, Bagatelle, The Showroom (2013). X Marks the Bokship, London (2013). The Europa Triangle, The Royal College of Art (2013).
Awards:
a-n Artists Bursaries 2021: Time Space Money
Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund
Bookfairs:
Presse Books, Forma, / Strange Perfume, The South London Gallery, London / ASP, ICA, London / Beyond Words Book Fair with Book Works, Hull / London Art Book Fair, Whitechapel Gallery, London / NY Art Book Fair, MoMA Ps1, New York / OFFPRINT, London / Publish and be Damned, ICA, London / :index Art Book Fair, Zona Maco, Mexico City / Three Letter Words, Rochelle School, London.
