ANOTHER QUIET PROTEST.
ANOTHER QUIET PROTEST
Another Quiet Protest is a collection of gentle warriors who stand together in response to the current global trend of gradually abolishing Trans rights. Each ceramic figure represents a vulnerable micro-minority in our queer community.
Progressive rainbow colours help the audience to identify individual figures as pan, trans, queer, gay, gender diverse, lesbian, non-binary, brotherboy and sistergirl.
Together they stand tall and proud in a fight for recognition, offering an invitation to be celebrated for their diversity.
A Quiet Protest introduces joy, hope and a sense of play as well as strength in unity. While many fabulous things have resulted in positive change in the lives of queer people today, as micro minorities we are still being targeted when we should be honoured for our courage and tenacity.
Reflecting the contemporary queer community, the figures are all age inclusive. They honour our rich history by wearing slogans worn on badges at queer protests in the 1980s and 1990s as seen on a recent visit to the Australian Queer Archives that declare: My body my choice, Love is love, Brother boys are beautiful, Lesbians are lovely and Kiss me I’m Pan,(Inspired by kiss me I'm gay).
The sculptures are individually hand made by myself, taking almost 200hrs collectively, earthenware, underglaze and glaze, they stand varying heights 30-45 cm high, all with dual personas and varying body shapes and expressions to invite the viewers to think about how varied the Trans community is.
Another Quiet Protest—stillness fills the space, an atmosphere thick with both tension and tenderness. Over a dozen gentle warriors stand suspended in time, their surfaces etched with the thoughts of thousands. These fictitious figures speak volumes through silence. Historical slogans and words of affirmation are boldly scribed across their forms, echoing decades of queer resistance and resilience. Bathed in the shifting hues of the progressive rainbow colours, they carry a quiet, powerful message of hope: we are here, we have always been here, and we will not disappear.
This body of work explores the quieter side of protest—those moments of stillness that carry deep meaning. While queer activism has often taken to the streets through marches, riots, and vigils, it also lives in subtle gestures: in the courage to exist, to affirm one’s identity, to hold space for others. From the Stonewall Riots to ACT UP, to the ongoing fight for trans rights, queer protest is not only loud—it is patient, persistent, and profoundly human. These figures do not shout; they listen. They do not march; they hold ground. In an era where LGBTQ+ rights are once again under threat, their quiet presence becomes an act of defiance—a protest against erasure, and a whisper of what still can be.
With thanks to the Australian Queer Archives for access to historical materials informing the language throughout the work
Another Quiet Protest was made in response after the anti Trans rally early 2023 in Narrm Melbourne, where Nazi salutes were blatantly displayed on the steps of parliament. This sent a bone chilly fear through our community as Trans rights are being taken away daily across the world. The motivation to exhibit these works is spard on by the lack of recognition of historical Trans events represented in permanent collections of Institutions Australia wide.
For further enquiries please contact me.
P.O.A.
