Portrait of a Young Man

Three disparate sign systems — flower arranging, astronomy and American Sign Language — are used to create an experimental portrait of the unique sonic and political qualities of the voice of singer and queer cultural icon Jimmy Somerville.


Portrait of a Young Man was produced during an artist residency at the International Studio & Curatorial Programme (ISCP) in Brooklyn, New York, and features performer and ASL interpreter Zachary Wager Scholl.



Portrait of a Young Man was first exhibited as part of Paraphrasing Babel, an exhibition in public spaces throughout Maastricht, The Netherlands, in 2012.


Portrait of a Young Man emerged out of You and Me Together Fighting for Our Love, a series of artistic gestures that pay hommage to Jimmy Somerville.