This exhibition is about the same-sex marriage story told through a Thai popular folk tales of Sang Thong. Sang Thong is a story of a couple who go through extraordinary lengths to declare their true love in public and get acceptant. The story mirrors the situation of same-sex marriage in Australia, Thailand and around the world.
I work predominantly with ceramics, a fragile and breakable medium. For this exhibition, I wanted to create works in more solid and permanent medium to symbolise the strong concept of marriage and a solid commitment a couple makes to each other. Thus bronze is chosen as my main material. Bronze is also a traditional medium for religion statues and these works in this medium represent the sacred concept of marriage in my work.
10 bronze sculptures represent 10 selected global historical events around the world that directly and indirectly influenced Australia to pass the same sex marriage law in 2018. The law that has allowed me to have my equality and a wedding this year.
- The 10 events I have selected are
1956
- Thailand decriminalises homosexual acts.
1969
- The Stonewall riots in New York City. The event sparked the formation of scores of gay rights organisations and considered a strong force for LGBT political activism.
- Marsha P. Johnson was an American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969.
- This is also the year that my partner and I were born.
1971
- Society Five, the first homosexual rights organisation is formed in Melbourne, Australia. For a decade it campaigned on behalf of Melbourne’s gay community, as well as offering a telephone counselling service.
1978
- The first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is heldand the rainbow flag is first used as a symbol of homosexual pride.
1993
- The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy was enacted, which mandated that the military could not ask service members about their sexual orientation.
2001
- The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
2005
- The Simpsons became the first cartoon series to dedicate an entire episode to the topic of same-sex marriage.
2017
- Yes Campaign, a campaign for supporting the vote in favour of same-sex marriage in the Australian national survey which lead to Australia leagalising same-sex marriage.
2019
- The year that my partner and I get married
2020
- The year that I hope to see Thailand legalise same-sex marriage.
