Communication Design School of Design
Rory McMillan
Using research to inform my making, my practice works across drawing, printmaking, and writing. My work often involves collecting information from archives and oral histories, documenting areas of Scots queer history often overlooked in comparison to larger urban areas. By combining analogue processes with visual research, I aim to communicate ideas of community and spatiality, both past and present.
Bedtime Stories
Exploring variations of gay fantasy, these postcards take influence from archival material, queer film, and gay semiotics. Each image raises questions of what makes a fashion choice gay, and how attire can influence past and present ideas of fantasy. On the reverse of each postcard, responses to different questions prompt to present different perspectives of fantasies, asking each recipient to consider how much information they are willing to share on a postcard.
“A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.”
– Madonna
Project Links
Bennets Disco Quilt
Using archival research and oral histories, this work documents areas of Glasgow’s queer scene that are often overlooked and forgotten in larger urban contexts, with a particular focus on Bennets Disco, Glasgow’s first and longest-running gay nightclub on Glassford Street. Following conversations with the club owner, bartenders, DJs, and club-goers, this research quilt documents the lives and stories that emerged from Bennets Disco, inspired by the tradition of commemorative quilts for queer people. Combining elements of drawing, interview transcripts, and visual research imagery, this quilt acts as a permanent reminder of the vibrant history of Bennets Disco and an act of resistance against the collective gentrification of Glasgow’s gay scene.
Do You Come Here Often?
Accompanying the Bennets research quilt, this record serves as a complementary outcome of my exploration into Glasgow’s gay scene. The mixtape features a curated selection of Bennet’s club-goers’ favourite tracks, ranging from camp club classics to Hi-NRG staples. With records tailored for both upstairs and downstairs, it is intended to be played at the afterparty when the club closed—a tradition often extending well into the next day. Each image is collagraph printed, combining elements of the interiors with advertising imagery, reflecting the energy of the club atmosphere.
