As a gay man, I envision a world in which I wish to escape to; a place where my fantasies and fears of queerness are injected with a sense of normalcy; a place called nowhere.
Nowhere is an oil painting series inspired by Gregg Araki’s 1997 film. It envisions a world where the complexities of queerness unfold within utopian realms. Set against vast backgrounds, these male protagonists revel in the joys of queer existence, free from the burdens of heteronormativity and prejudice. Symbolic elements in the composition reflect their quest for comfort and identity in surreal environments.
Disruptive objects accompanying these figures serve as allegories for the challenges of homophobia and the trauma experienced by young gay men. These figures find solace in their utopian retreats, escaping the pain of their past. Influenced by film and literature, the series weaves symbolism and narrative together, with the park bench symbolising a connection between their world and ours. The titles, drawn from private journals, invite the viewers into each fleeting moment experienced by these figures. Their situations evoke empathy for their ongoing need to seek refuge in these otherworldly realms while being haunted by the subconscious presence of the world they left behind.
