A very well-informed and interesting overview of Cahun&Moore and a critique of ‘Cancelled Confessions’. HERE
A new review of ‘Cancelled Confessions’ in e-flux
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Oxford Translation Day workshop Susan de Muth and Sophie Lewis
I very much enjoyed Oxford Translation Day at St Anne’s College on 14 June 2026. Sophie Lewis presented extracts from her recent translation of Cixous’s Angst and I used a couple of extracts from my ongoing translation of Claude Cahun’s most autobiographical work Uranian Games (1917/18)
This riddle-like passage is something of a challenge – see if you can work out what Cahun is talking about?
Ah ! le bon portrait de mon ami !
Les traits sont durs et l’expression est fixe ; le blanc des yeux obscur ; les prunelles sont claires et les dents se détachent sous la lèvre blanche.
Voici le cliché ; voyez l’épreuve :
Tous deux sont pareils, mais contraires. Pourquoi mépriser l’un, apprécier l’autre — haïr la mort, aimer la vie ?
C’est du Négatif qu’on a tiré le Positif.
Brooklyn Rail review of ‘Cancelled Confessions’
Really thrilled with this astute review in legendary NYC arts mag
https://brooklynrail.org/2025/12/art_books/claude-cahun-cancelled-confessions-or-disavowals/
Brian Dillon review of my translation ‘Cancelled Confessions’ by Claude Cahun
Desmond Morris – my interview rediscovered
I had forgotten about meeting the charming Mr Morris; I was reminded today when I visited the Ithell Colquhoun exhibition at Tate Britain – fascinating and brilliant work, if a little genitalia-obsessed. Well ahead of her time.
In the bookshop afterwards, I found a book by Desmond Morris called ‘The Lives of the Surrealists’. Published in 2021, the blurb describes Morris as ‘the last living British surrealist’. Of course, he is best known for ‘The Naked Ape’.
Here is a link to my interview with the great man:
My review of Eleanor Kelly classical guitarist
‘Who is Claude Cahun?’ A new play for Southwark Playhouse
D.R. Hill (writer) and David Furlong (Director) present ‘Who is Claude Cahun?’ at the Southwark Playhouse from 23 June for a one-month run.
I am honoured to join Hill and Furlong on the panel for a Q&A following the opening night’s performance (23 June 2025).
Here is more info:
DRH Arts, in association with Exchange Theatre, presents
Who is Claude Cahun?
by D.R. Hill
Directed by David Furlong
18 Jun – 12 Jul 2025
Ticket Prices (no booking fee to pay!):
Standard from £24 | Concession from £19 |
Previews £16 | Pioneers’ Preview (18 June) £10
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Born Lucy Schwob, a queer artist and writer, part of the surrealist movement in Paris in the 1930s, Claude Cahun struggled in their search for gender identity in the male dominated art world.
From a Jewish family, they relocated to the island of Jersey, with their long-term partner, Marcel Moore (born Suzanne Malherbe).
When the island was occupied by the Nazis in 1940, the pair used guerrilla art to actively resist the occupying forces. Pursued by the Gestapo, their true story is a forgotten tale of courage, and determination to be true to personal identity.
Who is Claude Cahun? shines a light on real-life resistance heroes, left invisible for too long.
With a cast of five, inclusive actors, moving image and projection, and surreal masks and movement, DRHArts and Exchange Theatre bring their unique touch to realise the extraordinary story of Cahun and Moore.
Article about my translation of ‘Cancelled Confessions’
Thanks to Victoria Kingham (former director of Hastings Contemporary) for this insightful article about Claude Cahun’s masterpiece:
https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/articles/reviews-opinion/hip-review-the-eyes-have-it/
‘The Invisible Adventure’ Cahun & Moore photomontage
This is the frontispiece to the book, ‘Cancelled Confessions’, published by Thin Man Press, translated by Susan de Muth. All artwork by Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore.
