"On visiting Sharmanka, P6 – aka Phil Eaglesham – made an instant connection to the place via the high content of old Singer sewing machine parts used in Eduard Bersudsky's marvellous mechanical sculptures and the fact that Phil's gran worked at the Singer factory in Clydebank.
That was just the start, but it's the kind of detail we love here and for P6 it aligns with a backstory emerging as a self-taught artist in the 1980s via DIY hardcore punk. It’s no exaggeration to describe him as a groundbreaking performer, who confronted institutional homophobia and whose provocative stance then, as the first waves of the AIDS pandemic landed ashore, opened doors for the broadest spectrum of artists who followed.
With many collaborations in music and performance, P6 was a member of Stretchheads, Desalvo and is currently in the duo Security.
Phil's professional life had a parallel trajectory as a nurse in mental and public health, suicide prevention, blood borne viruses, HIV and sexual health, substance use, justice and ultimately in homelessness and human rights. We look forward to hosting P6 at Sharmanka – surely an evening not to be missed, with soundscapes and reflections from an artist whose reference points link Scotland, post-Soviet era Russia and… who knows what else?!"
sharmanka.com
releases May 3, 2024