My interview with Fionn Wilson – artist and curator of Dear Christine: A Tribute to Christine Keeler, an exhibition featuring works by twenty women artists now on display at London’s Arthouse1 until February 29th – is published today on the excellent Culture Matters website. (The painting shown above, by Fionn herself, is Christine and the Poisoned Apple – conjuring both the biblical Eve, and Snow White.)

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this exhibition is postponed until further notice – more info here. (18/02/2020)

Dear Christine puts Christine Keeler centre stage and shows her as a complex woman sharing similar struggles that women still face three decades later – although for Christine these struggles were ramped up to a much higher degree – she faced the full wrath of the Establishment. I think visitors to the exhibition will perhaps come away with a fuller grasp of what she was up against and, hopefully, will feel sympathy and possibly anger. Christine always maintained she didn’t want to be seen as a victim, but it’s hard to see – within the framework of her background and the difficulties she faced – that she ever really stood a chance. We would all find it hugely difficult to be in Christine’s shoes, facing what she did, I’m sure of that. But I think the exhibition doesn’t take away from the feeling that Christine had her own agency – she was fighting and maintaining dignity and courage to the end.