These two were specifically made for the “Queer as Political” exhibition currently running at The Other Place in Cork city. Til now, I’ve really never made explicitly political work, but for once I have something I want to say out loud.
“Corrective rape” is the nauseating term given to the targeted rape of lesbians by men who seek to punish those women for their sexuality. It is currently rife in South Africa, despite a progressive legal constitution that even permits same-sex marriage. Noxolo Nogwaza (24) and Eudy Simelane (31) were each gang-raped, mutilated, stabbed and beaten to death for being gay and speaking openly in defence of gay rights. There have been many others.
Irish society, meanwhile, is comparatively liberal but still unequal. Women and lesbians are still taught the message that their bodies are not their own; that their desires and choices are not valid unless they conform to restrictive notions of femininity. I’m struggling to find a way to speak coherently about the misogynistic, homophobic influences that still permeate our supposedly liberal society but the idea behind these two paintings was to express this basic message: that if you think casual sexism or anti-gay slurs are harmless, you’re just not thinking. Read about what happens when you take this attitude to its logical extreme and consider whether you mind that you’re a part of the problem.
Correction 1 (Double Portrait) and Correction 2: Both pieces watercolour/mixed media on paper, 16×20".
For more information about the deaths of Noxolo and Eudy, try here and here.
