The first gay artwork dedicated to Alan Turing was unveiled outside Pink Punters LGBT venue in Milton Keynes today the 23rd of June (his 101st birthday), at lunchtime.
The piece, created by artists Rita Gav and Alan Butt, consists of a detailed timeline with major events from the maths genius’ life and after his death, with particular reference to his brutal treatment by the British legal system from 1952 onwards and his untimely death in 1954. Within the timeline is a rainbow colours mosaic made up of finest Italian porcelain.
It was unveiled by the Lord Mayor, Subhan Shafiq and Milton Keynes South MP Iain Stewart. Subhan welcomed the town’s latest installation as it challenged prejudice and Iain welcomed the pardon granted on Christmas Eve 2013 and the fact that living victims of the law under which Turing was convicted can now have their convictions overturned.
LGBT History Month CEO Tony Fenwick, attending the ceremony, said, “I have to confess when the curtain was pulled back I welled up. The artwork is incredibly beautiful and the picture doesn’t do it justice. The intricate bits, such as his ear, are made up of tiny pieces of porcelain and the lowest part of the mosaic the porcelain is shaped into cogs just like the ones that worked the ‘Bombe’, which cracked the German Enigma Code.
Joe McMahon of Pink Punters said that too few schoolchildren and too few members of the LGBT community were aware of the life and achievements of Alan Turing and his dreadful treatment at the hands of the criminal justice system and he welcomed anything that might change that.
Pink Punters’ project co-ordinator, Gayle Dallas, said: “We already have an Alan Turing room at Pink Punters celebrating his life and his amazing work. Now we have a piece that makes everyone aware of his achievements.”
Although there is a statue to Turing in Manchester city centre and another in Bletchley Park, this is the first work that has been commissioned by and LGBT organisation and the first to feature a timeline of his life.
The mosaic was unveiled in its temporary position outside the club and will be moved to its permanent home on the front wall of the club where it will be seen by all the traffic that thunders by on Watling Street in Fenny Stratford.
Meanwhile, the TV cameras were there filming the event for a programme about Pink Punters which will feature on Sky TV later this year. Watch this space for more details as and when.