Derek Jarman (1942-1994)
Seer
by Michael Clark (b. 1954)
oil on card, 1993

Jarman's first feature film, Sebastiane (1976) brought him notoriety and launched a directing career that went on to include Caravaggio (1986), The Last of England (1987) and Edward II (1991). Also an artist, poet, author, gardener and influential gay rights activist; Jarman died of an AIDS related illness.

Michael Clark's portrait was the last sanctioned by Jarman and includes a quotation from Lorca in mirror-writing. In translation this reads: 'Enjoy the luscious landscape of my wound ... but hurry! ... Time meets us, and we are destroyed.' Clark has produced a series of works relating to wounds, including an installation of Christ's wounds in the fabric of Chichester Cathedral in Sussex. (Winner)

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