My research looks at the domestic life of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears and the home they built together. I aim to gain a sense of them as a couple away from the public eye. For most of their 37-year relationship, homosexuality was illegal, meaning they lived their lives together as an open secret, constantly having to be discreet in their public life and personas.

For the second part of my residency at the Red Studio, I will build on the artworks that I produced in the first part of the residency in October 2020. These artworks are; a sculpture titled 'Close friends' under a Suffolk sun made from ink on paper and two dining chairs belonging to Britten and Pears. Six ink drawings called 'Open Secret' based on photographs taken of Britten and Pears together during the years that homosexuality was illegal.

The title of my research is taken from the title of one of Britten's Michelangelo Sonnets Canticle 1 'My Beloved is mine, and I am his.' Britten composed this work for Pears and him to perform together, Britten at the piano and Pears singing. It was first performed at Central Hall, London, in 1947. Now it is seen as a clear declaration of love between the two men, but at the time, this romantic understanding unbelievably was not sought, not seen, and not acknowledged, no public comment was made, and their relationship remained an open secret until Britten died in 1976.

Their home together at the Red House is the place where they come in to focus as a couple, a place where they could be together fully without secrecy, orientating themselves to each other and the objects with which they have chosen to surround themselves.

To find about more about Hannah’s work please visit: www.hannahhoneywill.co.uk