16 February – 18 March, 2000

Curator: Melissa Chiu
Artists: Michael Shaowanasai and Toby Huynh

Thai male prostitutes and the rituals of Chinese marriage feature in this exhibition by Thai-American Michael Shoawanasai and Vietnamese-Australian Toby Huynh.

Michael Shaowanasai focuses on sex for sale. His works at alternative galleries and public sites in Bangkok explore the male sex worker in one of the most infamous destinations for sex tourism within our region. Shaowanasai’s installation and performances for the Festival critically evaluate the sex industry in Thailand by recreating a Go-Go bar, complete with instructional video.

Toby Huynh’s digital images explore the rituals associated with Chinese marriages. Huynh’s work proposes and alternative set of rituals that Buddhist same-sex couples could perform. Would couples, for instance, kneel down in front of their ancestors and offer them tea? These images subtly evoke the tension between traditional cultural and religious values and contemporary gay and lesbian life.

Persuasion is a visual art event for the 2000 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.