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Category: Opera



22” x 34”
Acrylic on wood panel

“Category: Opera” draws the parallels between Chinese opera boy performers and New York drag queen communities. These stages have long been breaking barri- ers of gender and sexuality. ‘Dan’ roles were male performers of the opera troupe who played female roles. They’re highly trained skills and mannerisms examplified the essence of grace and beauty. Although rare, certain popular actors were given homes by their patrons where they could host other performers and have space to themselves. This imagery is comparative of New York’s ballroom scene in which the queer community was able to compete and encourage each other’s outlets of expression, and where Houses were safe havens for those who sought support from their community.

The artist references both time eras and cultures in the mannerisms of the audience, to the apparel and pose of the opera performer. Using a cross cultural narrative, “Category: Opera” stands to show that queer trauma, queer struggle, but also queer joy has had a global and historical existence.