He's gay, she's straight... and they married for art (video) (From Worcester News)
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He's gay, she's straight... and they married for art (video)
11:20am Friday 14th January 2011 in News
CREATIVE students proved that opposites really do attract when they took their wedding vows – and turned marriage into a work of art.
Nora Battenberg-Cartwright, aged 21, and Paul Cartwright, 20, married in Germany a few days after Christmas to show their commitment to each other – artistically.
However, while they are legally married, live together in the centre of Worcester and are very close friends, Mrs Battenberg-Cartwright is straight, and Mr Cartwright is gay.
The pair, both studying fine art at the University of Worcester, decided to make themselves into an artwork as part of their coursework they are undertaking in their second year.
They make sure they co-ordinate their outfits every day and also make their own clothes – including Mrs Battenberg-Cartwright’s gold wedding dress.
Mrs Battenberg-Cartwright, who is German and moved to the city to study, said: “We work collaboratively on everything, there isn’t a clear line between our work and our tutors have agreed to mark us together.
“We only told our tutors about us doing this a few days ago and they were quite shocked. They said they had to go away and think about it.”
Mr Cartwright said: “It’s about an artistic unity rather than a love union, to join each other in art and make us the art.
"It’s a really truthful marriage and we will still see other people.
“It is a bit strange calling her my wife and her calling me her husband. We do love each other, but in a different way.”
The pair said that while their parents were initially shocked about what they had done, they were supportive and beginning to understand.
The couple have already featured in newspapers in Germany and say they are committed to each other and if they ever divorce, that would be the end of their creative partnership.
Dr James Fisher, head of fine art at the university, said: “Nora and Paul are very serious students.
"They live together and work very closely together and are both very committed artists.”
Dr Fisher said the pair’s work would be marked following a strict set of criteria.
Comments(22)
crowquill
says...
11:34am Fri 14 Jan 11
MR H Marks
says...
11:43am Fri 14 Jan 11
BTW Crowquill I think you’ll find the taxpayer will still be funding these two which i am sure you will be over joyed about :-), I may be wrong, because they have already started their education.
molecat
says...
12:20pm Fri 14 Jan 11
Demigod
says...
12:22pm Fri 14 Jan 11
BernarddeCampio
says...
12:51pm Fri 14 Jan 11
jeffbroadway
says...
1:25pm Fri 14 Jan 11
LsJo
says...
1:46pm Fri 14 Jan 11
helen donovan
says...
1:48pm Fri 14 Jan 11
Not to mention showing a complete lack of respect towards marriage and everything it stands for.
one94
says...
1:53pm Fri 14 Jan 11
.
I wouldnt call it art though. It's more of a cunning stunt surely?
crowquill
says...
2:11pm Fri 14 Jan 11
molecat
says...
3:53pm Fri 14 Jan 11
MrWXYZ
says...
3:57pm Fri 14 Jan 11
cj072
says...
4:21pm Fri 14 Jan 11
It makes a mockery out of marriage.
Maggie Would
says...
4:41pm Fri 14 Jan 11
molecat wrote:Sarcasm, Molecat? You can do better than that!
Let's hope they put us on the artistic map and become Worcester's answer to Gilbert and George. We should be thankful that they are such talented artists that they managed to secure places at the University of Worcester and didn't end up at some second rate art college like St Martins School of Art.
molecat
says...
4:58pm Fri 14 Jan 11
Maggie Would wrote:I can do patronising too. Do you know what patronising means, sweetheart?
molecat wrote: Let's hope they put us on the artistic map and become Worcester's answer to Gilbert and George. We should be thankful that they are such talented artists that they managed to secure places at the University of Worcester and didn't end up at some second rate art college like St Martins School of Art.Sarcasm, Molecat? You can do better than that!
;-)
varien
says...
5:14pm Fri 14 Jan 11
What this couple have done is in my opinion the biggest load of b*******
I have come across for some time.
moonpig
says...
8:48pm Fri 14 Jan 11
molecat wrote:Brilliant!
I hope the Battenberg family provided the wedding cake.
VI
says...
4:08pm Sun 16 Jan 11
205man
says...
6:25pm Sun 16 Jan 11
you have students rioting and smashing up london asking to be heard and taken seriously , and then you read this sort of mindless rubbish.
whilst im not labeling all students the same, these 2 do not paint a good picture of modern students, and this sort of stupid act, would possibly influence peoples opinions of them.
if i was a parent and my kids did this i think i would disown them
val worcestershire
says...
1:02am Mon 17 Jan 11
205 man, I agree, they could make all students look irresponsible and therefore not taken serious and yet we know the majority of students are there for serious study to improve their future prospects.
I am not surprised at these two peoples parents attitudes and deep down they have probably not changed their minds, but are just accepting it as they know their offspring can and will go ahead any way, as they are both over 18. I do not know if you could go so far as to say they are of sound mind! Still, each to their own. It would be a shock to any parent. They could make themselves artistic without going that far.
If I am committed to caring for my dog, should I marry him too to show this committment?
Good Luck to them because in this day and age any couple need all the luck in the world for their marriage to work, with all the pressures these days, financial and otherwise.
Anthadlas
says...
11:30am Tue 18 Jan 11
jovialcommonsense
says...
8:16pm Tue 18 Jan 11
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