On 11 October 1928, Virginia Woolf鈥檚 (1882-1941) Orlando was first published. Today, it鈥檚 recognised as one of the 20th century鈥檚 defining imaginings of queer identity. Described as 鈥渁 book of radical possibilities鈥, it’s an exploration of time and gender 鈥 as experienced through the lens of a young nobleman during the era of Queen Elizabeth I. Orlando lives for three centuries without ageing and slips between genders, in a story which remains strikingly contemporary.
In 1992, filmmaker Sally Potter directed an award-winning adaptation of the book with Tilda Swinton in the starring role. Its screenplay is now a standard text taught in film schools 鈥 considered to be a 鈥渞adical and successful鈥 adaptation of a classic work. But Woolf鈥檚 tale functions not only as an inspiration for students. It continues to have an impact on Swinton 鈥 long after the final take. The actor describes the book鈥檚 ability 鈥渢o change like a magic mirror. Where I once assumed it was a book about eternal youth, I now see it as a book about growing up, about learning to live.鈥
Now, in an exhibition at Fotomuseum Winterthur, Swinton turns curator 鈥 selecting a collection of images and writings that celebrate openness, curiosity and human possibility. The show draws upon the central themes of Woolf鈥檚 novel: gender fluidity, consciousness without limits and the deep perspective of a long life. 鈥淲oolf wrote听Orlando,鈥 Swinton continues, 鈥渋n an attitude of celebration of the oscillating nature of existence. She believed the creative mind to be androgynous. I have come to see听翱谤濒补苍诲辞听far less as being about gender than about the flexibility of the fully awake and sensate spirit.”
Audiences can discover photographs by some of today鈥檚 image leading makers: Zackary Drucker, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Jamal Nxedlana, Elle P茅rez, Walter Pfeiffer, Sally Potter, Viviane Sassen, Collier Schorr, Mickalene Thomas and Carmen Winant. “This听will be a salute to indetermination and limitlessness, and a heartfelt celebration of the fully inclusive and expansive vision of life.”
Orlando 鈥 Based on a Novel by Virginia Woolf runs 26 February – 29 May 2022. Find out more
Image Credits:
1. Mickalene Thomas, Untitled #2 (Orlando Series), 2019 漏 Mickalene Thomas and Yancey Richardson Gallery, New York
2. Jamal Nxedlana, FAKA Portrait, Johannesburg, 2019 漏 Jamal Nxedlana
3. Collier Schorr, Untitled (Casil), 2015鈥2018 漏 Collier Schorr and 303 Gallery, New York
