The Alternative Andrew Logan

The Alternative Miss World competition returns to London this weekend, and we spoke to its curator, legendary artist Andrew Logan.

By Patrick Cash


Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’d call my life an artistic adventure. I trained as an architect in Oxford, in the 60s. Then I had an acid trip. I’ve only had one, but it completely changed my idea of reality. It sort of gave me the confidence as well, because I wasn’t very confident about doing things. So I always feel very much for young people, because you need that little prompt that then allows you to take a path. It could come from a person, it could come from a place, it could come from a drug – and then it becomes very clear. I had this idea of another reality and then I just started to make things. Now I’m self-taught, and I’m an artist in between so many different camps.

And when did you come out as gay?

Goodness. I think that evolved as well. I had girlfriends when I was at college and I suppose when I came to London I began to meet gay men. I actually met [my partner] Michael in 1972 and we’ve been together ever since, which is perhaps why we’re still here, because so many gay friends went because of AIDS, and I was monogamous. I suppose I’ve been very lucky, because I survived.

Has it been hard to keep a monogamous relationship going?

Not at all, no. And I think each individual differs, I think we’re all different and in heterosexuality there are marriages where they throw themselves around. I’ve been very direct in my life and very dedicated. You have to work at it, in a relationship whatever the relationship is, you really have to work. And also to be apart is very important – like I’d go to India for three months. I suppose it’s so natural for me I’ve never had to worry about it. I can understand for other people it’s really difficult.

And how do you see London’s LGBT community today?

Well, it has evolved too, hasn’t it? There wasn’t anything like that when I came to London. And the Alternative Miss World is for everybody, young, old, sexual preference, it doesn’t matter, it’s open to everyone. A lot of gay people come because they have a lot of gay friends, and they get the humour because it’s all about fun really, but there’s no emphasis on one or the other. I just think that gay men are possibly more sensitive really. That’s what it’s about.

How did the first Alternative Miss World come about?

I’d been to Crufts Dog Show. And you’ve got to remember that Miss World at that time in the 70s was huge. It all started in my little studio in Downham Road, Hackney to 100 people… We did daywear, swimwear, eveningwear, and we created some alternative crown jewels and we had an MC. Both men and women dressed up in outfits and that was the beginning and then the following year it got even more popular – the same studio, more people. That’s when I had all the fashion designers and that’s when Derek (Jarman) shot it on his super 8 camera.

Why do you think the Alternative Miss World picked up so much momentum and attention?
I’m very lucky, as I know some very interesting people. I really am interested in artists. I knew Derek and Derek won in 1975 as Miss Crepe Suzette. Derek was very serious but he liked having fun, he just loved having a good time. The first year we had David Hockney as a judge. When Divine came to the top of the staircase at the Circus Tent in Clapham Common there was no sound, but he just grimaced and stroked his crotch and waved his wig and the crowd went wild.

And this is the first time you’ve done it in a while?

Five years. I always start the event by building the crown, and then from that everything happens from the crown. This year the theme is neon numbers. I love crowning, and anything to do with ritual, there’s not enough ritual nowadays. Too much shopping. And that’s what this event is about: it’s about having fun and celebrating life. Very unusual: organized chaos. A surreal art event for all-round family entertainment, that’s how I describe it, in a nutshell.

 

www.andrewlogan.com

• The Alternative Miss World Competition is this Saturday 18th October at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Bankside, SE1 9DT. Doors 6.30pm, 7pm show.

• The official afterparty run by Vogue Fabrics will be Vogue Goes Globe, in a venue underneath the Globe, beginning 11pm.

• To read an extended transcript of this interview, visit: qxmagazine.kinsta.cloud/blog-event/in-conversation-with-andrew-logan/

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