Trans ways of making - a panel discussion

The panel discussion "Trans ways of making," which was held at Pātaka Art and Museum in Porirua, brought together artists Jack Trolove, Louie Zalk-Neale, and Tāwhanga Nopera to explore the intersection of trans-ness, or between-ness, as a methodology in creative work. The event, occurring within the exhibition "Thresholding" by Jack Trolove, provided an opportunity for these artists to delve into how personal experiences and identities can shape and inform their artistic practices.

During the discussion, Tāwhanga Nopera addressed the panel and audience, sharing insights into how their identity and personal experiences influenced their artwork. Grounded in the Māori tradition of rāranga (weaving), Nopera discussed how the practice became a metaphor for their life and creatively forging pathways through trauma and marginality. As an artist and academic, Nopera underscored the importance of personal narratives and experiences in forming understanding and healing, making mention of the power embedded in the indigenous knowledge and experiences of their bodies.

Louie Zalk-Neale also shared their artistic practices centering on the use of taura tikauka, or cabbage tree fiber rope, as a medium to embody their transgender experience and mesh it with Māori spiritual beings like taniwha and tipua. Zalk-Neale underscored the significance of inclusivity and cultural reflection of the diversity found in the natural world within their artwork. Through performances and body adornment, Zalk-Neale discussed embodying deep, ancestral knowledge and creating shared experiences that resonate with queer communities and beyond, demonstrating an intimate connection between transformation, environment, and identity.

Jack Trolove addressed the audience with reflections on survival and the representation of trans bodies in art. They emphasized the power of embracing trans-ness as a creative superpower, challenging the negative discourse that often surrounds trans experiences. Discussing their own painting practice, Trolove described the influence of mangroves, natural threshold beings, on their work. They underlined how these plants' existence between land and water echoed the trans experience of existing between established categories, utilizing these parallels to further illuminate their artistic investigations into the in-between.

Ana Sciascia facilitated the panel, providing not only an introduction but also guiding the discussion to delving into the experiences of being and transitions. The panelists were encouraged to honor past experiences - both personal and collective, and they underscored not only the struggle but the beauty and vitality of trans experiences and the creativity that persists.

In summary, the discussion linked personal identity with wider cultural narratives, touching upon the potentially therapeutic and transformative aspects of the trans experience within art. The importance of re-narrating trans life as one infused with superpowers, against societal narratives of deficiency, was a consistent theme. By contextualizing work within both historical legacies and current lived experiences, the artists offered compelling views on how these elements are woven into their practices.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Ana Sciascia Jack Trolove Louie Zalk-Neale Tāwhanga Nopera

2020s, ana sciascia, aotearoa new zealand, artist, arts, gallery, gender diverse, jack trolove, louie zalk-neale, ngāi te rangi, ngāpuhi, ngāti toa rangatira, peter rule, poetry, porirua, pātaka art and museum, rule foundation, tainui, takatāpui, te arawa, trans, transgender, tāwhanga nopera, val smith

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