A south-London art gallery has trashed plans to exhibit the work of an alleged homophobe.
Brixton’s 198 Gallery, which describes itself as “a pre-eminent cultural space that explores the rich diversity of artistic practices informed by emerging cultural identities”, was set to host a series of gun-crime photographs by Jamaican Peter Dean Rickards, as part of an exhibition entitled Crime and Punishment.
Previously, Rickards has been investigated by the Metropolitan Police over allegations of violent threats and homophobic harassment against a number of individuals, but he has not be charged. He is rumoured to be behind a website entitled killbattyman.com – thankfully now removed by the site’s internet service provider.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: “I would appeal to the Metropolitan Police to make representations to the Home Office to exclude Peter Rickards from entry to the UK.”
Tatchell is also concerned Rickards’ photographs glorify guns at a time when gang murders are increasing.